A/46/PV.25 General Assembly

I have great pleasure in welcoming the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Kennedy A. Sinnnonds, and inviting him to address the General Assembly. Mr. SIMMORDS (Saint Kitts and Nevis): f bring the Assembly most sincere greetings from the Government and the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and I 8-c !. it an esteemed pleasure and a distinct honour to address this our forty-sixth session of tbe General Assembly. I join in all sincerity with those who have preceded me in congratulating the former President, Guido de Marco of Malta, on his skilful handling of our past deliberations during a period of unprecedented challenges. Then I hasten to welcome our new President, Sarnir Shihabi of Saudi Arabia, whom I wish to assure of my country's firm support and continued cooperation. The very astute way in which you have been guiding this session, Mr. President, deserves our highest commendation and portends well for a successful and fruitful forty-sixth session. Next, I wish to pay a special tribute to Secretary-General Javier Peres de Cuellar, who continues to serve our Organiaation with demonstrative dignity, elegance, and excellence, amidst difficult and trying t.lmes. HIr focur haa alwaye bean int~ornst.\onal peace and security for t,he proplom of the world. His losdsrmhlp ham been msst.orful in a period of qrnal. uphsavsl and tKeMM!ndOUB chsngs. Ml. Becretsry-General. my Government and people ralute your we atand in awe oil your indefatigsble comnitment.~ crnd we pledge our support ae you continue to rrerve the intarnst ional conxnunlty In the prof icimnt and effect ivo mannsr to which we hsve grown sccuatomed. There hsve been times in the paat when tha relevancs of th@ United Nation8 ham baen questioned. when the will of it,s Msmbsrn to be resolute in defence of the weak haa been in doubt. Not anymore. This assembly of nations hea acted to ensure the restoration of sovereignty to one of its smaller Members, Kuwait, and the world looks on wPth nppreciation. Host 010 supportivs, some are still derisive, none remain indifferent. The United Nation syatsm is experiencing its finest hour - still, it is a time of enormous challenge and opportunity. The vibrancy of the Assembly ia reflected in the plethora of new Member a. Saint Kitta nnd Novia warm warmly received into thia body, and today I deem it a plsaar~re and an honour to extend a warm welcome to the now Member E . I welcome the Republic of Korea, our friends of long standing, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. AR is well known, my Government has conniatently advocated the admission of both countries for several years. I welcome the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, as well as the Republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lith,Jania. I am pleased to assure the Government.6 and peoples of these new Members that my Government and people will extend to them most. active cooperation in t-he cause of world perrce and human development. While democracy lm broaklng out all over the world, romehow the balaagumrmd people of HaltJ continue to be denled the opportunity to breath. the pure aJr of freedom. Wy country, Ralnt RJtte and Nevis, ancl Indeed the entlro Caribbean cowraunlty, are deeply shocked by tha actlon of the armed forcem in Haiti in Illegally soJ8Jnq Yresldont Jean-Bertrand Arlstlde snd members of hia administration and umurylnq the authority of the duly constituted Government. This monstrous and outrageous action by the HaJtlan mllltery is an unscceptable reyudlatlon of the declared ~111 of the people of Haiti, whJ.ch wan overwhelmingly and unambiguously manifeoted in the electJon of December 1990. Saint Kilts and Nevis, and lndaed the entire Caribbean conwnunJty, unreservedly condemn this flagrant aaaault on tho unfolding democratic proceas in Haiti, and demand the reetoration of constitutional order and of Father Ariatide to the presidency of the Republic. The Cnribbean conwnunlty nae ln the past called for concerted international assistance to consolidate democratic gains in Haiti, We repeat that call today. The Caribbean community is working within the Organization of Pmerican Statea to restore democracy to Haiti. I call on this body, the United Nationa, which haa acted deciafvely in other areas of crisis, to move with urqency and purpose to ostracise the illegal regime in Haiti and to take all appropriate measures to restore democracy and the constitutionally elected Government in Haiti. The people of Haiti cry out in anguish to the world c0mmunit.y for de1 ivarance. Let ua not fail. them t.his time. I w.imh to focum today on t.ho l ubjoct.. of development through pmce am the bamim for the now internetional order. Uast-Uemt tenmlon ham abated! the merlin We11 ham fallan bonsath thes ruryo of Ireedomr Kuwelt hem bean l!beratedj souw challengom to democracy are bolnp thwartodl end diplomacy and negotiation are IIIOKO and more belag acropted am altarnatlvem to vlol~nca end bloodshed. (cltdiiRWK?~81, ..8AiPt Rift8 AAQ mvia 1 Ths initiat.lvs t.skaa by Prasidmut Aunh of the Unltod Stntea of America to implement II unklat.ersl reduction of nuclear weaponm Is timely nncl welcome. The rasponoe of ?rssident. Gorbachev of the Soviet. Union 1s a furt.her siqniblcant. contribut.ion to the reduction of intarnstionsl tenriona. He muat now ~oize the opportunity of the moment. and work towsrdn the t.otal elimlnstion ol nut lenr wespona. However, world peace must. not be vlswad only in terms of the absence of war Id wer, Cha elir.,irration of East. West tension or the achlavement of cease--firea. The concept of world peace must. be fnrmore fundamental and perversive. It muat mean an acceptance of human equality and dignity, the achievement of social justice and the global preservation of individual hwnan riqhC.8. The world must work as assiduously at bui lding t.he foundations of paarll (rs it. did at erecting the bastions of WAC. The enhancement of education, the eradication of poverty, !ho reduction of unemployment, the maintenance of good health, the provision of aifordeblo housing, the adapting of science and technology to aocio-economic development - these must be the dividends that flow from diverting global financial resources away from the amnssing of armaments, to be invested in hul. an development. This is the challenge we face. This is the new battle we must join - and we must not fail. The development of all our peoples throuyh peace must: be placed against the b;lckdrop of the need for a comprehensive polit,ical set C lement. of di sput.es, self determination through free and fair elections and full respect for national 5overeiqnt.y. CoqeCher wit-h the repatriation and rehabi 1 itation of c-1 i 5 p 1 a c: 0 d p e r s 0 11 I; . (prince Uoheagd Dolkiah, -1 balanced against continuing violence, social unrest and grave civil strife in several regions. Horeover, three specific global issue5 present themselves. I refer here firstly to the risk that certain development prograuases may lead to great environmental damage. Secondly, I note that the drug menace is presenting a lasting threat to the welfare of the young people who constitute the productive sector of all nations. Finally, I add to these our ever-increasing ability to cause human and material destruction. I am worried moat of all by the fact that we do not seem to have found a way to control the development and spread of such technology. These issues represent security problems which are just as dangerous as any act of open hostility. They reflect a disturbing level of uncertainty. Despite positive global changes, they add up to a host of problems which no one country can solve alone. They are all likely to lead to disputes. The only way we can stop these turning into open war. I believe, is for us to act in unity. Therefore we need to identify security concerns in a global context. If that can be done, then we must work together to find solutions. I see those two needs as crucial. As I have said, I do not overlook the positive developments vre have seen in the post-cold-war period. They have offered signs that it is possible for us to move forward together. I think that tbe recent announcements made by the Presidents of the United States and the Soviet Union about reducing nuclear arms are most welcome initiatives. So are the encouraging responses given by other nuclear Powers. They indicate that a new process is under way. I believe that it may start to answer the repeated calls for action in this area vhich have been made by many United Nations Members. (Wr. sinan91zda, gad NevW The intransigence of Itag continues to cause disquiet in the international cormaunity. We must maintain appropriate sanctions until the relevant resolutions of the Security Council have been implemented in full and until the people of Irag, as well as their neighbours , can live without fear of intimidation from either conventional or nuclear armaments. South Africa continue8 to be another area of grave concern to us. While we welcome the steps taken by the De Klerk Administration to dismantle the pillars of apartheid, we must keep in mind that apartheid is not ended. Until there is equality and respect for individual rights, regardless of race, our objective has not been achieved. The ultimate objective must continue to be the achievement of one person, one vote. We cannot accept one standard of freedom and democracy for people in Europe and tbe Americas, and a lesser standard of freedom and democracy for the people of South Africa. The people of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and, indeed, the Caribbean coraraunity, vi11 maintain our principled stand of continuing sanctions against the regime in South Africa, and we oppose the wholesale lifting of sanctions at this time. We consider the lifting of sanctions now to be premature, and caution that it could result in delaying the inevitable end of apartheid. I call on the international community not to retreat when the end is in sight. I call on the international community not to abandon the oppressed people of South Africa at this critical time, but to stand fast until justice, equality and freedom become realities for all. Democracy and individual rights and freedoms are all part of our Caribbean way of life. We want nothing less for our African brothers and sisters. It. ir CRUI~ for deep concern t.hst pew@ and justice continua to elude the people of Cambodia. They, t.00, have II right. to smpl rm t.o the fruit.8 of economic devalopmant. We call for all conattuctive efforta to eontlnus until the reechlng of n l ettlmmmnt which brinqm r.-n end to conflict and uahmrn in an era of devolopaant. My Government l upportr the new direct.(on towards fuadamentnl reform und democratlsatior. In the Soviet Union. It hnn undoubtedly contributed to the removal of East-Wa,st tensiona. E davrlopmeat that has been r-eceived with a global sigh of relief. I have no doubt that there will be a major mobilisation of finsncial, technical and material ronources to nssist with the economic tranrformation of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. This ie ns it Rhould be. Howmn~r, the United Nations muat be particularly vigilant to ensure that the socio-economic prablema of developing countrien. like mine, are not marqinalired and rwlegated to the backwater of humnn develq~ment There mwst be a redirection of resources, and a mobilixation of additional reaourceu, away from the economy of war to the economy of development. The United Nations must be an instrument of peacemaking and enhancement of the quality of life. The Organization can thua direct and coordinate responses to the developmental nee3s of small States. We need an Orc~anization that remains commitLed to the sustained growth and development of all of its Member States, in order to build and maintain a world partnership. We must, therefore, commit ourselves to reinforcing the multilateral approach to the solution of our problems. It behoves us to streqtben the internatioaal system of wbicb the United Nations forms the nucleus. Tbe international community must rally around the system if it is to fulfil its obii':>tion to restore and ensme international peace and security in order that economic and socio-cultural developmat may prosper, bloom, and bear good fruit. Tbe issue of development and the eaviromneat is so fundamental to the achievement of a better guality of life that I must sddress it. It is axiomatic that all of us share a responsibility for protecting and preserving the environment. It seems, however, that in this regard some countries are more egual t&m others. In 1966, a major airline manufacturer found it necessary to destroy 630 acres of lush forest to establish a factory complex. This was a case of development taking priorxy over environment. The significant development value of that decision is totally accepted and unquestiomd today. On the other side of the ledger, however, we find the disturbing tread where environmental questions. sometimes real and sometimes imagined, are becoming major conditionalities attached to development assistance for poor countries. Are we to understand tbat development must take priority over environment in developed countries, but that the emironmeat must take precedence over development in developing countries that are being strangled by a hostile world economic system? The ensuring of exaviromental protection and development must not run counter to a country's strategies for socio-economic advancement. There must be a balance between environmental concerns and a couatry's overall development so that environmental issues ought not to becolse a deterrent to development in 4.b; x8oror countries. Additionally, i% must be appreciated that environmental concerns differ from country to country, and from region to region. In the developed world the accent is on issues like the ozone layer, acid rain and toxic waste. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, however, we need direct assistance in the areas of solid and liquid waste management , marine life protection, beach conservation, reef preservation, the prevention of coastal erosion, and the full integration of marine resources into the national development plans. I must at this point make particular reference to the Caribbean, stretching from Belize to Guyana, and linked by small, island developing States from the Bahamas to Trinidad. We are a string of pearls linking North and South America, beautiful but vulnerable. We are vulnerable to natural disasters. vulnerable to global economic developments over which we have no control. We are vulnerable to an international economic order that determines and sets at a low level the prices of the things we sell , and escalates the prices of the things we buy. We find ourselves consigned to a treadmill of poverty, debt, and underdevelopment. However, because of our location close to the Americas. and the cross-fertilisation of cultures anti values, fuelled by the revolution in electronics and communication, our people have developed high expectations. We have helped ourselves considerably through individual and regional effort, and international support. while our location provides , on the one hand, opportunities for development. particularly in tourism which is important for all of us, it is also a source of great challeuge and dasger. We are also vulnerable to the narco-terrorists, the drug traffickers. Together w must continue to wge all-o& war OIL these purveyors of death aud destruction. We continue to need zuore assistauce in reducing demand through educatioa, health care. and rehsbilitation, and w must intensify our combined efforts in the area of interdiction and enforcement. ht this time when the attention of the international comunity is taken up bp events of smuueental proportions throughout the world, I feel I must endeavour to keep the development concerns of islauci developiag nations on the interuatioual agenda. Ihere have also been positive developments in our region in relations betw24n neighbours. I must cowmsnd the Govermnents of Belire and Guatemala on having reconciled their differences in the interest of good neighbourliness. The declaration that Guatemala recognises Belise as an independent State not only allows Belire to participate fully in the Ceutral hwrican integration process, but gives a tremendous boost to Caribbean-central Americas relations. Uy Goversment looks with optimism to the prospect of both Governments’ continuing negotiations so as to iron out remaining difficulties, in the interest of peaceful coexistence between the two countries. In addition, my Government comnends the United Wations and the Organiration of Americas States'on the role they have played and will continue to play in providing avenues through which wrhable solutions can be found to territorial disputes. At this tise is our history we are seriously challenged to bring an end to conflicts and to stimulate a resurgence of human develapwnt. Within the parsmeters of this broad objective, there must be a place for special attention to bo given to the welfare of our children. We gave that process rpecrial emphasis when we met here at the special Heads of State and G~vernmnt SW ml t for Children. Let. ue conmit. and rededicate ourselvea to rise t.o fh~) challenge of making peace mean develqment for people everywhere, but let us make it specially meaningful for our children as WQ provdde For their health. educational, recreational and psychological needs. In this we CAII have no nobler objective. mPReSII)ENT (interpretation from Arabic): On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister and Minister for Poreiqn Affairs of Saint Kitts and Nevis for the atatement he haa just made. P_~B.JQJ@&~~J~QJ,,&~ (Brunei Darussalam1r Sir, I should like to conqratulato you upoa your election an President of the Assembly at. this session. I am very pleased to see such a distinguished office held by a representative of our close friend, Saudi Arabia. May I also express my appreciation to the outgoing President, Uuido de Marco. At the same time, I particularly wish to thank the Secretary--General for the excellent work he has done, often under very difficult circumstances. Brunei Darusaalam would also like to welcome seven new Member8 of the United Nations: the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republics of Estonia, Latvia and I.it.huania. Brunei Darussalam still maintains what I described here last year as “cautious optimism”. However , we have seen a number of problems which demand early solution. We cannot put them off Until a later date. They are bound to affect the positive trends which have started to bring about a new order in Europe. Unleae we can try to do something about them urgently, they are qoirlq to becoma very grave indeed. We can see that there* is already much uncertainty in many parts of the world. The start of a ueu world order has perhaps helped to remove some of the outward signs of long. term problems; but it. has not yet shown us how to go about dealing uith the problems themselves. Their basic causes are still with UR. I am very much encouraged by the many positive efforts which have been made to create a peaceful and stable world. Nevertheless, I also think that there is a real need to prevent old probl.ems recurrinq. The cold war may indeed be over, but we can see that many nations arc st.ill very worried ahout their sfbcur ity. Not.ecl pal it ical gnins must h (prince Uoheagd Dolkiah, -1 balanced against continuing violence, social unrest and grave civil strife in several regions. Horeover, three specific global issue5 present themselves. I refer here firstly to the risk that certain development prograuases may lead to great environmental damage. Secondly, I note that the drug menace is presenting a lasting threat to the welfare of the young people who constitute the productive sector of all nations. Finally, I add to these our ever-increasing ability to cause human and material destruction. I am worried moat of all by the fact that we do not seem to have found a way to control the development and spread of such technology. These issues represent security problems which are just as dangerous as any act of open hostility. They reflect a disturbing level of uncertainty. Despite positive global changes, they add up to a host of problems which no one country can solve alone. They are all likely to lead to disputes. The only way we can stop these turning into open war. I believe, is for us to act in unity. Therefore we need to identify security concerns in a global context. If that can be done, then we must work together to find solutions. I see those two needs as crucial. As I have said, I do not overlook the positive developments vre have seen in the post-cold-war period. They have offered signs that it is possible for us to move forward together. I think that tbe recent announcements made by the Presidents of the United States and the Soviet Union about reducing nuclear arms are most welcome initiatives. So are the encouraging responses given by other nuclear Powers. They indicate that a new process is under way. I believe that it may start to answer the repeated calls for action in this area vhich have been made by many United Nations Members. I am also particularly 9lsd about the ray In which the United Net iona hao become involved in tryinq to help salvo regional conflicts. I am pleastid t-o sea ua beyinninq to address 9lobaI issues t.ogethrr. Howvm r # the final succnsa of tha United Nations dependa on the attitude of its Member count.r lea and organisations. It is up to all of us to contribute to building up the type of United Nations we want to see. tvsry Member of thin body should take an active part in helping to define its role. In this way, we can be confident that the United Nations will not see solutions to problems from limited perspectives. The post-.cold--war period is 8 tima to call upon Mombar Staten to do everything possible to reach a aharnd uaderstnnding on how bilateral and regional problems aro to be resolved. It ia perhaps our most urgent need. Without it there can be no agreement on what must be done to address the problems of social and economic davelopmentr there can also be little common ground when it comes to deciding what we muat do to protect the environment. OLher movos call upon us to recognize that the scope of our current problems demands a broad approach. To this and, we must encourage better understanding, cooperation and interdependence. As the Persian Gulf war has shown, the end of the cold war vi11 not mean tho end of regional disputes vhich affect internat.ional peace. More positively, however, it has demonstrated the need to cooperate. It has shown that we are capable of working toget.hec towards United Nations goals when a common tShreat to our global community arises. It. has also shown that we can do that eveu though bilateral and multilateral disputes mny continue to disrupt regional peace. In this rognrd, I think that regional Jnmtitutione have II tnoat important. 1010 to play in makinq sure that ragionx remain atabln. Over t.ho pnat two yoarx we havn baen pleased to obeorva thix taking place in Europa, ArrwPrJca, Africa, Aria and the Pacific. In particular, wo welcome recent. developmenta Jn Cambodia no the psrtiea and countrimx concerned with the conflict work towards Jtc final comprahenmivs settlement. In Korea, we believe that ths re9ional frrvnewnrk for international cooperation which has promoted North-South dialogue has been moist valuable. In Gouth Africa, we have seen how countries end international organixationx finally persuaded the Pretoria re9ime to set about removing apartheid. Similarly, in the Widdla East, the JnJt.JatJvex taken by the United St.atea, together with the actions of the international community and regional institutions, have brought. ux some renewed hope. We feel that a lasting peace and a juat settlement within the terms of Security Council reaolutiona 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) may ultimately be achieved. There mre of course many other areas of pressing concern. I think that countries can contribute much towards imprc)vi j.zJ them through their various regional or international associations. I feel that it is important. to recognize that regional dialogue clerves to increase the aonne of security felt by all parties. It will certainly help to ensure that one Gsat.ion’s -Mcurity concern doea not bacome another-‘s security threat. In summary. T taolieve that 8 situation whereby regional bodies assert increasingly important roles in support of Unit.ed Nnt.iona ohjectivaa is Q rua1iat.i~ vision. Today I have offered some thoughts On problems which are still outstanding security concerns despite a new political climate. In their light I have also stressed that we have already in place some practical means of addressing them. We need to use them. We should accept that cosrson global problems require unified action. We should not have to wait for bilateral or regional differences to be settled before taking such action. Responsible regional organisations can be of great assistance in deciding what form it should take. This situation, however, can only be brought about if nations demonstrate their palitical will when it comes to supporting international principles. If this is done, a climate of cooperation and negotiation can truly emerge from a commoa perspective. I contend that the welfare and security of all people are increasingly served by a strong United Nations in which regional organisations play vital supporting roles. I believe that the means I have outlined are available to us. We can indeed create a situation whereby individual Member nations see solutions to problems in terms of collective security. Erunei Darussalam will lend its fullest support to all moves designed to encourage such a process. Miss CWIEPE (Dotswana): Mr. President, many speakers who preceded me to this rostrum have been more than eloquent in describing the rare qualities of leadership you bring to the presidency of the forty-sixth session of the General Assembly. What more can we add other than to assure you, Sir, that we too repose our confidence unstintingly in your ability to steer the deliberations of this momentous session to a fruitful conclusion. And we congratulate you. most sincerely, on your election to this high office. (w Cbieue, Botswana) The distinguished Foreign Minister of Malta lived up to our expectations during his tenure of office. We salute him for a job well done. We welcome to our midst the seven new Members that have just joined the United Nations. We wish them well. An increase of seven new Members can only enhance the strength and vitality of our Organisation and advance it further towards universality. Under the stable and purposeful leadership of our indefatigable Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, the United Nations has continued to respond forcefully and creatively to the fast-changing panorama of human history. The past year has been particularly challenging, and even daunting, for our Secretary-General and for the United Nations. The Gulf crisis which was in full bloom during our last session, early this year burgeoned into a full-scale war whose consequences are still reverberating. Thankfully, a renascent United Nations was not found wanting in its response to the crisis; aggression has been defeated; the Emirate of Kuwait has been liberated. We salute the Secretary-General under whose leadership the United Nations has been given a new lease on life. As the old world of nuclear terror, political tyranny and ideological confrontation gives way to the new world in which our major preoccupation is whether we have the capacity "to execute the increasingly versatile projects of peace", (A/46/1, uaoe 4) to quote the Secretary-General's report nmw world oramr hmr become very crucial intleoa. Am thm Socrotsry-Oonmrsl ‘m rmport ala0 rtatom. “The l ffectivanmrm of the Unltod Nationr can no Jongmr be In doubt”. (ibid.)@ -----_---- * Mr. Gyaw (Myamar ), Vice-President, took t.he Chair. 04iss chi~%otswsn@) what continues to be in doubt, in our view, is our readiness, we the Members of the Organisation , to give th8 United llatione the wherewithal to perform its escalating tasks. The peace that is breaking out everywhere in the world needs nurturing while, at the Sam8 tim8, new conflicts now erupting as a cons8quence of the precipitate expiration of the old order are threatening the new world order in its infancy. ABd we expect the UBit8d Nations, trammelled by unpaid arrear's and late payment of contributions, to rise to the occasion, to police peace and mauage conflict with an empty treasury. Mission impossible! Nevertheless. the world is changiBq for the better. A new cycle of history whose character we must all participate in shaping Baa begun. Throughout the globe today the co-n maB and woman are insisting on regaining mastery of their destiny. Multi-party democracy has become the eouonon clarion call of mankind, a triumphant affirmation of the phenomenon of peOp188' power. Be it in Africa, Eastern Europe or elsewhere in the world today, an inexorable process of renewal is in progress. And yet as the struggle for democratic pluralism intensifies Bew conflicts arise while old and hitherto suppressed aBtagoBisms are set free. The historical excesses of extreme nationalism and ethnocentrism are threatening the peaceful evolution of the new world order we all seek to nurture. Change is not coming peacefully everywhere. It rarely does. Our hearts go out to the people of Yugoslavia and other Eastern European States that are caught in the throes of difficult and painful transitions. This is what the Secretary-General , with his usual candour and precision, calls "a unique justaposition of promise and perils" (&/46/l. B. 5). fn our view, bowwet, the prolais8 is transcendent. A world free of the threat of nuclear holocaust and political tyranny aad totalitarianism is not necessarily bereft of conflict, but it is tbe beat insurance for peace and tranquillity smong nations and peoples. There is the understandable fear and axuiety that we bave begun the era of monopolarity, the dotnination of the world by on8 Super-Power unrestrained by th8 checks and balances of bipolarity, and that more tyranny and fear is likely to be perpetrated by the lone super-Power in the new world order. Such apprehensions are understandable, even as ve fervently cherish the hope that with a strengthened United Nations and the ascendancy of economics as the locus of power the new vorld order will be one characterised by democratic multipolarity driven by interdependent economic competition. And it must be emphasised #at a durable neu world order can result omlp from our united efforts, not from a lone super-Power's fiat. The agenda of the forty-sixth session is, like its predecessors, long and varied. This is an indication that we still have a long vay to go to resolve the many problems that confront our Organisation. It is hoped that the new mood at the United Nations vi11 enhance our capacity to search for solutions to these problems. We have seen hov successful the United Nationa can be if its endeavours in the service of peace enjoy the support of its membership in both the Security Council and the General Assembly. The Security Council, in particular, has demonstrated that, united, it can act decisively as a preaerver of international peace and security. In Asia, at long last the end of the Cambodian tragedy appears to be at hand. The parties to that long-festering conflict vhich has wasted millions (t4Aa.a.. Cb,deorA. Bofanann) of innocent.. llves have f Inally sgreed on an elactorsl syrtam to be uneU to conduct. multiparty Uemocratlc elec-1 ionr. Hare again the Lnat.rumentality of t.he lJn!teU Nat.ions (ra hn ~mpart..ial arbiter in the reeolutian of irrLracCnb1e problems has provad it.6 unUoubteU elf icacy. Unfort.unst~ely, Afghani8t:afl iR at.111 bleeUJnq, a CcmtlRuOd victim, not of t.he IJnited Nst.ionrd fallura to devise 8 successful solution to t.he civil war there but, rather, a victim of the refusal by the partles t.o t.he civil .*er to implement t-he let.ter onU spirit. of the 1JniteU Nations Geneva Agreements. 1 t. is hopeA that the recent decision by the United State8 and the Soviet Union to terminate the supply of arms to the be1;Jgerent.a will starve both partiea of the incentive to prolong the needlens blood-letting. But the United States and the Soviet IJnfon are not the only auppllers of arma to the be1 ligerents. Consequently , the United Nations muat make it clear thataubaidiary auppliern of arms to fuel and sustain the Afghan tragedy are alao duty bound to reapecc, Un i ted Nations-broker4 peace agreements. In the Middle East, the yuns of war are silent at least on the Iraq -Kuvait front. Thank God, Kuwait’8 freedom and independence have been restored. A dangerous precedent. has not. been allowed t-o acar the face of humanity - that a small, defenceless independent and sovereign State be obliterated from the face of the earth with impunity by n powerful neighbour. We can argue int~errninably about the excesses or depredations of Desert Stow-m, but the reality is that the restoration of Kuwait’s exist.en?e as a free and independent, nati;>n has rC?nSSUred small, powerless and defenceless Stat.es, like my own, of their innliennblc right to exist as free and independent nations - provided, of ‘ii1 Sf’, that f roln now 011 there vi 11 be no selective moral it.y in the t I e<rt rrlc~rit of ,~~J’J’c*55,i(~ll t,y t ti42 IP”W”’ f :I 1 ilr;ai rist the W?Jk. The Cyprus guestioe remains as stubborn as ever. !Lhere is what is called new thinking in the world today and the world is changing so fast that the rap-makers have thrown up their amis in despair and frustration. Aod yet 5ome things are refusing to change. One of thers is the tragic division of the idyllic island of Cyprus, a non-aligued and Cormsonuealth country that threatens no one. A lot of time and energy has been expended in the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem by the Secretary-General over the years without much luck. The parties are still set in their old positions, oblivious of the buffeting winds of change around them. Cyprus must be reunited, to take its rightful place in the new world order. The Middle East also remains frozen in the unremitting immobility of the seemingly irreconcilable positions of its conflicting nations. Lebanon has taken decisive stepstowards internal peace and national reconciliation uhile the people of Palestine remain homeless. Israel is continuing to expand Jewish settlements in the occupied territories while professing a commitment to negotiations to reconcile the national aspirations of the Jewish people and their Arab neighbours. Creating facts on the ground in the West Bank and Gasa runs the risk of ensuring the failure of negotiations even before they start. Botsvana fully supports the United States initiative aimed at convening a Middle East peace conference, where, we hope, the nations of the area and the Palestinian people will come together at a conference table to find common ground for the harmonisation of their conflicting nationalisms. The United States initiative represents an opportunity which can only be missed or wasted at great peril to peace. Israel has the opportunity of a lifetime to satisfy itself that all the Palestinians want is a home of their own in the West Bank and QlBsa. and not. t.ho abl It.ornt.\on of t.h8 Jewirh Btat,a f ram t.ho Inca of ?hm Hlddlm lart. Tha Pnlentlnienr, mqunlly, nra prerentrd w1t.h I rbra oppor,tunity to clar Lfy whfithel 111rnel wnntn pesca, or confl rnnt.ion of 1t.a t,arr lt.orlal conquaatr . In aoutharn Africa, the rrltuatlon qlvme qrounde for hopa. The Jest veat..lya of whit. minority rula 1r1 about to he axpunqad. South Afrlcs la In the throaa of dramatic change despite the roemlnqly InaoJubJo urban vlolanca thot haa crasted tho perception t-ha\. black 5out.h AFricana cannot. real lna thst. tha momrnt. of reckvninq has err Ivrd -. violence l vidatntly orchortratrd by slnistor elements that @co bent on frustrstinq the birth of n naw nation in thst atrife-.torn country. Q4iss Chieoe. Botswana) The people of South Africa stand poised at the gate of the new South Africa tbey have sought all these years. The apartheid scaffolding has been removed and dismantled even though the structure - tbe structure of apartheid - remains intact. The legislative basis of apartheid has been removed for the first time in more tbau 300 years , and South Africa for all South Africans regardless of colour, race or creed is ready to be negotiated. There is no time to waste. Tbe conditions of the United Nations consensus Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa may not have been met in letter and spirit, but the time has come for the people of South Africa to proceed to tbe Conference table to negotiate a new democratic dispensation for their country. The Abuja statement on South Africa issued by the Organiration of African Unity (OAU) Ad Hoc Committee in July 1991 is unequivocal about the urgent need for negotiations to begin: "The Committee underscores the fact that central to tbe struggle for the eradication of apartheid is the transfer of power to a democratic government elected on the basis of a non-racial and democratic constitution. It reasserts that negotiations leading to the drawing up and adoption of this constitution is now the most urgent and pressing question. To this end, it calls upon the national liberation movements and all the anti-apartheid forces to work in concert within the framework of a patriotic front." (A/46/450. annex, oara. 4) The situation in South Africa today is almost a replica of the situation in Namibia during the implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1976) in that territory. If ne are expecting the establishment of perfect peace in Sopth Africa as a prelude to the commencement of the negotiations for a new South Africa WC? ere expecting the impossible. The closer we are to the resllratlon of the new South Africa the more desperate and vicious will be the remiatsnce. The negotiationn themrelves are most likely to be accompanied by the eecalation of violence, inspired or free-wheeling, in the townships and elsewhere In Sout.h Africa. Of utmost jmport.ance at thlo crucial juncture is the adoption of a democratic constitution to end once and for all minority rule in South Africa. Political Prisoners have heen released and are being relsaaed and will all be released simply because there is no sense what.soever in keepirq them incarcerat.ed. General amnesty. however imperfect, if5 now in place under the trusted auspices of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner ior Refugees C which guarantees the safe repatriation of exiles. The repressive laws that have formed the foundation of ,.,artheid and have been the object of the United Nations anti-apartheid campaign for close to half a century have been abolished. There is today an atmosphere of relatively free political activity in South Africa, free enough at least to allow the convening of an all-party concerence to negotiate 8 new constitution. Nevertheless, the United Nations must continue to insist on the cessation of violence in the townships and elsewhere in the country so that an atmosphere auspicious for negotiation could be created in South Africa. While the onus for the maintenance of law and order rests with the South African Government., black leaders are also duty bound to contribute to the search for a national solution to the destrurtive violence. It does nobody any good aimply to stand. watch and criticire and allow the dark and sinist.er forces of hired thuys rind assassins to cheat the people of South Africa of their right t-0 be free from tire scv;lr~je 9f r;lc.inl t-yranny. we ate pleared that thr United lationr Weetern Sahara oparatlon WM net. in motion on 6 Septamber 1990. It Is hoped thst the two psrt Ies to that conflict will coopersto with the Sp~cisl Rspressntative of the United Nnkionn Secretary-Gensrml to ensure that n successful referendum to settle the queetioa of Western Snhars once and for all ia held on schedule. In Central America, i.t is hoped that the lenders of 151 Salvador will cooperate with the Secretary-General in his efforts to facilitate negotlntiona to and the ruinous civil war that has throatsned to blee?d the country to death. We urge the Security Council to continue to take a keen interest. in the issue. Over the years the world has seen the emerqence and growth of what soms call a “borderlesa economy”r and yet the world economy has continued to be controlled by the macroeconomic policies of a handful of countries. wo carln0t talk about democracy, good qovernance and transparency at the national leval and deny the application of these principles to the management of the international economic system. It ia appropriate ond indeed desirable that pluralism find a niche in the macroeconomic management of the global economy. The major players in the “borderless economy” should appreciate that. this is in their self-interest too. The persistence of the world’s economic ills is a sore reminder that some of the prescriptions which are preferred by the major actora have fallen short of addreasing the root cause of the problems. The involvement of other States will. provide alternative approaches to dealinq with these problems. Botswana welcomes the proposai made by the Secret.ary--General on 3 July 1991 in hjs opening statement at. the s szond regular session of the davelopment flnsnclng. We are pleased t.hat this Issue will tnt qivlan alar ioun consideration during thin session of the General Asnembly. wow Ihst the dtatractfnq Eeat./Uent. divide hnn hesn ellminaled the t.ime 1~ opportune to sttend to the resl problems facing human1t.y. Gotme of t.he vast. renourcem t hnt have bean spent t.o produce nnd maintain weapona of mbnn desl.ruct.\on should now be channelled towards pressing development problems. It, is our sincere hope that the current climate of conaenmua will be fully taken ndvsntsgo of in order to reach a sst.iafactory decision. We look forward to a succensful conclusion of Lhe Uruguay Wound of multilateral trade negotiations. The integration of Eastern and Cent.rel Europe into the world economy entails the need for greater access t.o marI ket:;. Resource flows to developing countries and the prcorromioa in trana!! ion alone, without. increased trade opportunitisa, cannot lead to sustained ,\II(: sustainable devsl opment.. There is a new sense of urgency t.o briny protectionism to an end. Africa’5 crit.ical economic situation psrsiat5. In many countries the situation has deteriorated. The continent is faced with a crippliny debt burden. At the end of 1990 Africa’s debt. amounted to over 3270 bill ion. Although this amount may appearsmall compared to global debt figures, the seriousness ard enormit.y of the problem can be readily appreciated when one takes into account the debt-.servioe ratios which are so high that most of t.ho export revenues are used to repay debt instead of f inancirq devcJ.opment - Thr reduct: ion c,f debt obligations should be made a major priorit.y if Africn is to be able to face t he development chra! lnnge in t11e 1990s. Af r li:arl count r i es fully under’st and their 1.PSFKJIlS ibi 1 i ! y in t nt.k I i nq I.hesp ~~rrtt> 1 em:;. They ilC‘Cf’IIJ the ns+?d for piI 1 i ( y I C!I)I i + *at JO~J nirnc~ri at pt ft7c.r ivv1 y dt*i? I i ri:, Wit tl t tr13 developmental problema. It im important that the ryeclal needrr of kfrica are not only kept on t.he lnternatlonal aqends but. t.hst qsnulna efforts are also made to rsrolva t.hrm. Botswana attachem th@ utmost !mpartarwr to lsauerr of environment. snd development.. The cnnrervation of our renewable and non-renewable t-esourcos is a major component in the formulation anal ~mp~smentation of dsvolopment pol Iciea. Since independence Botswana has enact&d a variety of laws aimed at addressing environmental issues. Last year we adopted a national conservation strateqy with a view to ensuring effective coordination hetwecrn issues of snvi ronment and development.. The areas of major concern are range-land degradation, tho use of wood fuel without replanting trees, the mining of groundwater, the rsductiou of wildlife species, the generation of wastes which pollute soil. and water, and the ahnndoruwnt of open mining ahafts and quarry pits. It ia Botmmns’m policy that the rarponaibility for conmervat.ion and protection of tha environment should frill upon there who own and/or msnsge t.hs country’s fe~ourc01~. Them include c~onnunitlsa, farmorn, livortock ownera. amsll entarprisaa and induatrialiata. In thin rnspect the Government rsguires sound environmental impact studise for major davalopmwnt project o. Xt ir the aim of Botruann to enaura that the prices of such reaourcen 80 land, water and forestr reflect the @carcity valuer in order to increaas awaroneae of the nead to connerve uuch reeource8. Botswana is comitted to plnying its part in dealing with issues of environment. But there are limitations an to what a poor developing country can do on its ovn, qivan the fact that the question of development is an important aspect of a aation’o capacity to addrens the environmental challeugos. In view of this, the 1992 Rio de Janeiro United Nations Conference on Environment and Development will be a hiator ic lsndmark in multilaternl cooperation. It is our fervent. hope that the Confer”nce will adopt concrete deciaiona aimed at addressing the link between environment and development. Many people in developing count.riea live in ab.ject poverty, and for the poor long--term sustainability plays an insignificant role in decisions on product ion and consumption. What is uppermost in their minds is how to rrurvive or live from one day to the next. Poverty breeds environmental degradation, which in turn repradrlcos and reinforces povert.y. This first world sununit on environment and development should address thase issues in clear and unambiguous terms. This would involve. among other things, assisting developing countFries to gain OCCC?.P,.S to environmentally sound technoloyies. Botswana r~afflrn~ Lt.4 fsit.h in thr Unitod Wfat.ion@. This unique Orq~niu~t.ion has rwrved UCI roll deayite t.he @@vere conntraint.s that have 80 often in the psrt. f rucrtrstad it.a enderrvourn in the aervico of peats. Relsnsed from those conxtzsint.s and infuned with a naw dynamism and a renewed ~)enxe of purposs, the United Nations haa the capncity t:.o give form and ahaye and mesniny to the new world order for the good of mankind an b whole. Finally, it in our fervent hope that Africs’s bid for the post of Secretary-Cenerml of t.he United Nntiona will be crowned with #uccea~. All we ask is to be allowed the opportunity to nerve on the thirty-aighth floor. &.,.$.Q~A--J’&j~J&J (Cent1 al African Republic) (intarpret.at-ion from French) I The aocfsl upheavala that have occurred In the world, whose conaequencea have for borne time been etserizq intarnetional relations in a now direction, hove recently been ao forceful, rapid and profound that the entire internat.ional c0mznunit.y is ntill exaznining their import, and particularly their impact on the very future of international relationa. While it is truo that that phenomenon can be broadly explained by the explosion of the contradictions born of the disappointed hopes and accumulat.ed frustrations of many peopLea over many yeara, It ia nevertheless true that. we are truly confronting a changing world, a world rndical1.y different from the one that determined the equilibrium of forces on which our Orqanization rests today, a world whose evolution, owing to its momentum, we cannot. yet. ynuqe with any precision. And yet we must try to harmonic Ihe state of the world today with the devaIopment. of new int.ernntional social fact.ors in ortler to avoid aggzavatiny the imbalance that.. mult.ilaternlism has not. managed t-o redress. That. III the line of t.hought. the delegstion of the Centre1 African Republic would like to shsre with the Ansembly, to which X am firat. in duty bound to trnnsmit, t.he beat wirhse of His Rxcelle~ncy Gsnernll Andr/ Rollnybn. President. of the Rapublic and Hesd of Stat-e. for the muccoee of it.e work. I am c Iao ploaaed to extend to Hr. Shihabi the weretest congratulations of the delegation of the Centre1 Afrlcnn Republic on his election to the presidency of this seasion. His internntionnl know-how In t.hia changing world promises e successful outcome for these deliberations, end he can be assured of our complete coopernt ion. The competence and spirit of compromise with uhlch hla predecessor, Mr. Guldo de Mnrco, conducted the work of the last session deserves the appreciation of the delegation of the Centrnl African Republic. The Government of the Central African Republic wculd also like, as his term draws to a close, to nsaure our Secretary-General, Hia Excellency Javier Perez de Cuellar, a of its grent gratitude for the determination with which he helped ta restore to the Unxted Nations its credibilit.y, prestige and arzthority, attributea so esaential today to the action it ia undertaking to ensure that conditions in t_he world will bs in keeping with the principles of the Chnrter. The admission of uew Memberrs to OUT midst, the highest manifestation of the realitation of the aspirations of their peoplsa, ia a striking stage in the efforts made by the Secretary--General to endow the Orqanization with a universal character. The delegation of t.he Central African Republic is therefore happy to Dmmocratic Peopls’~ Republic of Korea, with which my country anjoyn cordial relationr of friendahlp, which we hope will ho otrenqthsned by cooperation within t.he framework of the lfnltsd Nations. The Internations nocisl re&littma of today’s world demand an even graster affirmation of our will t.o net for t.hom a courrre that. will be in harmony with the ideals and principlor of the Orgsnlsation. lor where exactly do we at and7 Tho cond I t.ions thst have led to the advent. of t him nascent new world order arm, to be sure, thm result of the dynamism of international relst.Sona tahst hcra brought about. the normallxntion of relations between t.he two aupsr-Powers on the basis of the redsfinltion of the doctrine of collactive security upon which they era enqagsd. We have good reason to be pleased thnt the outcome haa been this positive trend, which has resulted in greater compromise on all international guestions, beginning with thoaa relating to international peace and acrcurity. The evolution of the situation in those regions of the world that hnve been a source of concern to the international coxxxunity ia alao significant in t.hi6 respect.. Whether in Cambodin, in Western Sahara, in Afghanistan, An southern Africa or in the Korean peninsula, United Nations action, aupported by the real political will of the partierr involved, has made it poarrible to come up wit.h or at leaat to init.iate a solution in line wi: h this trend toward8 compromise. Tha dalaqstion of the Central Africsn Republic would alao like to noo thnt aama api r i t dsf ine Ihe sattlement of questiona 1 inked t.o the r I ae of national lam throughout the world, (II) In Eastern Europe. flut the lndiwlslhllity of peace muat. not prevent. certain reqinna whose peoples rightly aspire to a life in peace from benefiting from the current t rendn. rirat, there in the Middle taat. where everyt.hinq must be done to achieve a just and lasting settlement fully qunrantesinq the national rights of t-he Palestinian people and Israel’s legal right to exist. My delegation considers that the posajble conweninq, in the near future, of a conference on peace In ths Middle East will provide an opportunity to formulate such a settlement. Then there is South Africa, where the Pretoria government’s desire to enact reforms has placed the national debate in a new light.. We should encourage the continuation of onqoinq efforts to transform South Africa into a truly democratic society boasting equal rights and completely rid of apartheid. Such developments. made possible by the new climate in international relations, might have been extended also to othee spheres of coopeietion needed for balance in a changing world. But that has not happened, as witness the strictly limited cooperation among States in so fundamental an area as development. It is precisely there that we can see the gap between t-he aspirations of the majority of the u I-Id’8 peoples and the international community’s response to those aspira’iuns. military Irecurity, while long the goal net and pursued by Btates for political reaaona, has now been annullnd because of the dieappearance of the very underpinnings of the prlnciple - the rivalry between the two blocr. Development an a way of providing all the world’8 peoplne with security in all area6 _. security of well-being, ecological security, food mecur-ity - should provide the ideal framework for the cooperation that ir sadly lacking in international relations. It looks ae if t-bird-.world countries -- parti.culnrly those of Africa -- are to remain excluded from development in the face of indifference from the developed countries, Yet how many meetinga, conferences, seminars and colloquiuma have been organired everywhere, often with the assistance of the United Nations or other international institutiona, to consider and atte.npt to resolve the situation of those countries? Though the ills have often been defined, it has never been posnible to find a cure, and the situation in thoae countries has deteriorated over the years. Owing to the combined effects of the steady fall of conmnodity pricea, the very heavy s~.~bt and debt-service burden, negative net financial flows and the growing protectionism of developed States, those countries will never enjoy the conditions necessary for sustained, lasting sconornic progress. The recent assessment of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development. 1986-1990 confirms the limits of international action for, African countries. At. the same time t.here ia a growing tendency towards the reqionrll izat ion of economic activities among developed count.ries, which can oniy cor~~.ribute t.o the maryinalizat.ion uf Africa. go what economic future can we predict for African countrlse wh1c.h hrrd legltimetely hoped to be able, at. t.hIr time of a general decrease in political tension, t.o UCJO economic interdependence to find rolutions to their problems? Like the Covsrmnts of ot.her c?untr ies, ths Government. of the Central African Republic has defined, in agreement with international f lnanclal institutions, a new framework for develomnt. policies, at the cost of wall-known sacriflce~ that should heve aroused good will in the international conununity. The round table held last April in Geneva with the asalstance of the United Nations Development Proqrlvmns (UHDP) enabled UNDP to asunas the difficulties my Government continues to sxperience in its efforts to atabilize t,he economy. I take this opportunity to thank all the participants in thatround table who took an interest in the situation of the Central African Republics we hope they will be able to moet their conxnitmenta towards my country. Hy Government feela that the now trend in international relation8 should also extend to developments if it does not, the new world order for which t!le international community so ardently wishes will he in vain. There should be more sustained effort.3 towards a solution of the problems of the commodity market consistent with the true vi~lue of those commodities, especially since African economies depend heavily an this market. Likewise, it is imperative to give hiyher priority to the search for a comprami se on t-he question of debt and debt. *;t.rviciny in the mut.ual interest. of creditors and debt.ors. The delqnt ion of *ho Cent.ral African Republic has always called for nr. international c:oPferenc@ t-hat. could achieve this, And we hope that the present cllmste In ralationa nmonp Bt.et,er will help br inq this about. For some time there h&s been D t.rend inspired by the developed count 1 ie~ t.owards ast.tinq (In add~t.ional condition for aid or any other f0r.m cJf sseistsnc8 to African countrlaa: t.he sffsctivene88 of efforts at. domocrstication and respect for human rLghts. f3uc.h an npproach cor~ld have the major drswback of att.nchinq lower priority to the interesta of peoples et..lll requiring (I cont.rlbution by t.he 1nt.ernntIona.l community if they are to enjoy increased well-being. Countries such 88 the Central AErLcan Republic, uhich have already embarked on a confirmed courne of democratiuat.ion, would like the int.ernotional community to consider this new content to aupport the various efforts towards deepening and aprending democracy. It is possible to follow international social trends in order to avoid n discrepancy between world social reAli;y aud the law of the United Nations. Cooperation amony States, as set out. in the Charter, has al lowed intornetionnl relations to move in a new political direct ion; it. must. alao show States t.hu means to reelize those international social realities t.hat reflect. the aapirationa of the majority of the world’s peoples. World balance demands this, and the deleget.ion of the Cont.ral African Republic, which believes in a future accordiny with t-he purposes of the Charter, wants to join other Members in expressing t.hm hope that this session will mark a new staye on t-he road t.ownrds effect.ive development. cooperation among St nt.aa.

Like those who have preceded me to the rostrum of the Assembly, I would like in my turn to congratulate Mr. Shihabi on his election to tbe presidency of the General Assembly at its forty-sixth session. His brilliant election represents not only a well-deserved recognition of his many qualities, but also the esteem his country, Saudi Arabia, enjoys in the world for its devotion to the cause of international peace, security and cooperation. The delegation of Benin is convinced that, under his guidance , our work will be crowned with success. My delegation would also like to pay a tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Guido De Marco, who led our deliberations with great competence during the forty-fifth session, which was characterised by a deepening in our common thinking on restructuring and revitalising our Organiration and by our desire to achieve consensus on the aims of the San Francisco Charter. The Government of the Republic of Benin is grateful to the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, whose tireless efforts to achieve the United Nations objectives of peace and justice have undeniably help to accelerate the political transformations under way in the world. These transformations have already been reflected in the end of the cold war, characterised by all types of rivalries at every level. Now that his second mandate is coming to an end, we convey to him our country's appreciation for the great devotion he has showa as head of our Organisation. In this tribute, I also include all those, near or far, who work with the Secretary-General. They spare no effort to ensure the smooth running of our Organization and the triumph of the noble ideals on which it is based. It is my pleasure to congratulate the Secretary-General most especially for his excellent annual report. which takes account of the prestige of the United (Mr. Hole Deain) Nations and is forward-looking within the context of strengthening the irreplaceable role of the United Nations on the international scene. The universality of our Organisation has been furthered by the admission of new Members again this year. We welcome the Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - which have regained their sovereignty after more than 40 years of annexation. Similarly, we congratulate the two Pacific States, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. All of these States are now Members of the United Nations. We would like to assure them of our full cooperation in achieving our cornnon ideals. We would also like to extend words of welcome to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and to the Republic of Karea upon their admission to membership of the United Nations. We hope that, in the near future, in the like the peaceful reunificatioas of Yemen and Germany , we will witness that of the Korean nation, which will put an end to the long and painful night of separation and help to resolve one of the thorny problems linked to tbo cold war on the Asian continent. We are also extremely pleased by the return to our midst of the Cambodian delegation headed by His Royal Highness Prince Norodom Sihanouk. Late in the twentieth century, history is going through changes of exceptional depth and scope. My delegation would therefore like to welcome the positive and encouraging events that are strengthening international peace and security. After a terrible arms race, the United States of America and the Soviet Union have today courageously embarked upon a veritable disarmament marathon with a view to creating a safer and more stable world. The recent initiative of United States President George Bush in proposing the eXir?ination of all landand sea-based short-range tactical nuclear weapons - an initiative that was positively received by the main nuclear Powere, psrtlculsr ly the Soviet Union, whore Prexident Mikhail Gorbachev hns reeponaibly taken up the challenges of peace - ia xignlffcant. in that respect. In this same context we welcome tha strengthening of the non-proliferation regime with ths decision to adhere to the 196R Treaty not only of two nuclear Power9 - France and China - but slso oL non-nuclear-.wsapon stetell. We therefore expect that this Treaty will be renewed 3r made permanent when it expirea in 1995. Thin would open the way to iucrsaaed international cooperation for the peaceful use of atomic energy. The era of confrontation is being replaced - r;lowly but surely - by that of international cooperation, and in the place of political and ideological rivalries we see the emergence and consolidation of a spirit of solidarity and s growing awareness of the necessary complementarities. Thus the major protagonists of the past, the United States and the Soviet Union, have established policies of cooperation expressed in their sustained efforts to 1 imit weapons, in particular by the implementation of the 1987 Treaty on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Miaailes (XNP Treaty) and the signing in Moscow on 31 July 1991 of the Treaty on strategic arms reduction (START Treaty), whose aim is to spare us a nuclear conflagration. In a regional context, X would like to mention the positive developments in the situation in P.1 Salvador, which are due to the efforts 0; the Secretary-General and to the initiatives taken by the Latin American States that met recently in Mexico City to establish the foundations of true regional cooperation and economic inteyrst ion. These are measures that will build (Mr, HQAQA. Brnie) confidence and security with n vieu to the irrevarnibls ret-urn of peats to that. r6gion. What can one aay ahout the davelopment of dwocrat.ic movements in t-he war 167 These have besn manifsated, iptnr..a.lln. by the political plutalinm that has already enabled my country, Benin, to establish, after almost two decade6 of monol.lthic government, a 1OgiOlatiVe organ, 6 Chief Erecutive elected by direct universal. suffersge, and a truly independent judiciary to prrrtect our freedoms. We are proud of being 6 part of the development of democracy, which ia spreading further over the world every day, 86 witneaaed by the failure of the attempted cpllp-&’ against the reform policie6 of the Soviet President, Mr. Mikhail Corbwhev. This development enhances the moral Authority of our Organiration, rh 1 zh is rightly based on the promotion, defence and protection of fundamental human rights, including civil and political rights for the preservation of international peace nnd security. (tel.. H~AQ~...JimlAIa) Howevnr promising the new political situation prevsiling in the world today mny aeom, ~0 cannot forget., nmid t-ha euphoria of that rssl stt ainment.s of democracy, frsedom end tnternat.tonal cooper&t ion, t.hat l unqort.unately, unnccspt~nble dieeyull Ihr ium. unbearable injust ice and dsngeroue hotbeda of tension atill exist on our planet.. In other words, i ntsrnat lonal peace and necur1t.y remain fragile. In South Africa, ue are wltneaaing the collapse of the pillnrs of Apart.heid - a aymtem that, in its very essence, is harmful to the human dimension of socur ity. We can only say how plensed ue nre about this. However, there is every reason to be concerned about the yeraiatence of violence .- it is time to put an end to this, once and for all -- and about. tho absence of real proqresa in the preparation of a democratic and non-.racial constitution based on the principle of one man, one vote. We therefore nppeal to all the peoples of the world to reaffirm their determination to harness their efforts to assist the people of South Africa to reyain ita complete freedom as soon as possible. That is why the international community in gendral and Africa in particular Tust remain viyilant and must maintain existinq measures against South Africa, in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at. its sixteenth special session, devoted to apart.heid and its harmful consequences in southern Africa, until it has been very clearly demonstrated that the present course is irreversible. It would be i Illusory t.o believe that the removal of t-he sanct.ions imposed on Sout.h Africa could lead t.o a rapid change irr t.he system of qovernrnent by the white m i nor i t-y. Furthermore, we ancour nge tha South Af r lean oppos I t. Ion to uni t.a for t he purpoaa of acc*l*rrrt in9 t.hlR eVOlUtiOIl, which will maka it. posnlbls for Sou?h Africa to contrlhuts to securing the peace and progress to which ths peoples of southern Africa empire. Thone peoplsn hnva suffered too low7 from terror and destructioir. In that reBp@ct., t.he cessstfon of internal hctstliit ies in Angola, following the signing of .t cease-fire agreement on 31 May 1991, is en encouraging alqn of an end t-o more t.hBn 15 years of civil war, which has ruined the country. We hopa that the name will prove to be true with regard to Mozambique. We hope also thnt the peoples of these two countries will be enabled t.o en:)oy t-he peace that, is so essential to national rsconstruction and well-being. Benin is pleased at the aqreement that haa been achieved betweorr jndependent Namibia and South Africa on the question of Walvis Bay and the neighbouring ialnnds, in accordance with the spirit of Security Council resolution 432 (1978) a The settlement o this important question will make it possible to consolidate Namibia’s sovereJlnty and territorial inteqrity and to create the conditio::s for the economic integration of a prosperous southern Africa. Elsewhere in Africa, certain fraternal count.ries have not been spared civi 1 wars born of ethnic conf 1 icts, social and political injustice and violations of human rights. It is our duty to continue relentlessly to rocomr~nd to those involved that they rosor t t.o t.ha vir-tuos of dialoque to resolve their intdernnl dispute:;. t-1 In this respect, the international community must not spare any effort in encouraging regional initiatives , such as those of the Coafereece of Beads of State ancl Government of the Organisation of African Unity (DAU) regarding Ethiopia and Somalia which supported the efforts undertaken by President Hassan Gouled Aptidon of Djibouti to bring peace back to the Horn of Africa, or those of the Economic Coarnunity of West African States with respect to Liberia, taken up recently in Yamoussokro at the second meeting of the so-called Ad HOE Committee of Five under the auspices of President Houphouet-Boigny. Benin is pleased at the efforts that have begun to be deployed by the Senegalese and Wauritauian authorities to restore relations of cooperation ana good-neighbourliness between the two countries. These relations have deteriorated since August 1989. In the north of the continent, the Governments and peoples of the Maghreb have been aspiring to more cooperation, and the efforts they have been making along these lines must be encouraged for the sake of the developxent of the Arab Maghreb Union. If there remains a significant obstacle to realioation of this desire, it is the question of Western Sahara. vhere the praiseworthy efforts of our Secretary-General have not yet led to peace, despite the recent cease-fire. However, my delegation has no doubt that the parties involved will cooperate with the Secretary-General in the context of implementation of the settlement plan endorsed in Security Council resolution 656 (1990). which provides for a self-determination referendum under the auspices of the United Nations and the OAU. My country is honoured to he one of those that have participated directly in the field in this peace mission set up under Security Council resolution 690 11991). (Mr. Holo. BeDiR) Since our last session the situation in the Middle East has not improved. The international community was heartsore at the war between Iraq and the coalition of States that, quite rightly, cooperated with Kuwait. That war - caused by Iraq's aggression against eh8 sovereignty of Kuwait - ended with victory for the Coalition, but without solution of the basic problems that inflame the region. Not only has Iraq, which invaded Kuwait - now liberated - been destroyed; Kuwait too is in ruins. This distressing spectacle faces mankind with serious moral problems. Must we embark on massive destruction of the heritage of all mankind befOr we begin to reconstruct, at great expense? The Republic of Benin has always respected the principles of the Charter, and we condemn any use of force to settle disputes b8tWe8D states. w8 f881 that mankind Will be running real risks if, as in the past, it drags its f88t with regard to the question af a comprehensive and urgent resolution of the question of the Middle East. As in the case of the war against Iraq, the question of the conflict b8tween Israel and its neighbouring Arab States, the question of Palestine, which has not yet been Settled; and the question of Lebanon, where foreign troops are still present, and in respect of which one cannot speak of true national reconciliation, still pose a threat to international peace and security. There is thus an urgent need for specific and concerted measures taking into account, in particular, the rights of all the States in the region, including Israel, as well as the legitimate political rights of the Palestinian people, in order that a comprehensive, just and lasting peace may be achieved. In our view, only a sincere and frank dialogue between all the parties involved will make possible a just and final solution to the (~r~-.~A~~~ll~Pln ) Ierrall-.Psleatla1en prablmn. Prom that rtandpolnt, my country hope@ t.hst. t.ho coneultetlane undort:akwn by the United Itetor nuthorltlee will muccsed In leading to the convening of e regional confsrsncr. ua w*lCOme the support rhown by the Palestine llatlonal Council, at its recent meeting in Algiers. for the United SteMa inltlat!ve. In turope, the raunlficatlon of the lalsnd of Cyprus le slso en urqont teek uhoeo completion ie In the intoreet8 of pesco and recurlty, which 81.0 threstoaod by nstlonslity conflicts such nn that in Yugoalevla. Q&r. X010. Benin) Benin is concerned with the tension uhich prevails in that country, whose ideals of non-aliqment we share. Thus, ne urge mutual understanding among all the componeats of that Pederation, so that peace and security may be restored through negotiation. mu Asia, follorinq the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, it is essential that the various parties enbark on negotiations with a view to brinqinq about a restoration of national unity and peace. We congratulate Cambodia, which has been ravaged by a dozen years of civil war, on the establishment of a cease-fire. But the various factions must still overcome the internal controversies which impede the implementation of Security Council resolution 668 (19901, aimed at arganizinq free and fair elections under the auspices of the United Nations. boor tbat the world seems to be embarked on an irreversible course to end the policy of blocs, where the obsession with military security is no longer appropriate, prospects seefn to be openinq up for arms limitations. The final objective is general and complete disaraame nt which will release substantial resources for the development of the poorest countries of our planet. In other words, our Orqaniaation will have to take up additional challenges arising from the continuous deterioration of the international so&o-economic situation vhich poses another threat to international peace and security. Indeed, poverty, went, famine, malnutrition, sickness, drug abuse, the deterioration of the environment kill more people in a few days than did the Hiroshima bomb. Are these ills not the daily lot of a major portion of the peoples of this world? And nowhere is the situation as serious as in Africa. a8 the Secretary-General emphasized in his annual report. Tha internat ionbl cofmmuni’ y la l ufferlng from unwzceptahla i I lo at. t-he end of the tuent.1et.h century, rk+eplts al 1 the progress nchlsved by mankind. Dellpile the Immrnnr ro~~outce~ of the modern world and the mttraordlnary scientlCIc: nnd technnloqlcsl progr’saa, poop10 on our planat, still find It difficult to oxiat or oven to ourvivo. The economic rlt.uat.lon In the developing countrier har barely Improvad, dssplte attempta to remedy It. There Is no doubt that. this ~II the most. ssrious thrent to international peace and securit.y in a constantly chsnglng world where the meant of comnunicatlon enable the poor to observe t,ha insolent wealth of the rich. An Pnternationsl order which allows more than half the population of thn planet. to die of hunger and ignorance is doomed to failure. The Declaration adopted at the the eighteenth special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations devoted to international economic cooperation, held in April-May of 1990. did not fsil to sound its trsdit.ionel alarm. It wa8 recognired by All that the solution lioa in the adoption of nat.ionnl policies to liberalixe t.rade 80 as to respond more flexibly to the evolution of the economy. Furthermore. the Second Unitod Nations Conference on the Least Devoloped Countries. held in Paris in Sept.ember 1990. rz,ti:mnended to the international community in it-s final Declaration that greater attention be focused on thaso countries in vieu of their specific problems. (Mr. Holo, Benin) The profound changes under way will have failed to achieve their essential objectives if they a0 not take into account and settle the question which has become primordial, namely, the organisation of planetary solidarity; in other words. if they do no tackle the fundamental problems of Worth-South relations, and in particular those linked to African debt, the impoverishment of our continent, and the accompanying train of want, sickness and unemployment. In effect, the situation in Africa, where most of the least developed countries are to be found, is hardly encouraging. Almost all African countries have programmes for the restructuring of their economies in accordance with the International Monetary Fund (IWF) and the World Bank, the positive effects of which are still to be seen. Faced with the uncertain future of all these countries, at their last susvnit meeting the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), recognised the need for stopgap measures by encouraging regional economic integration to be achieved in the next three decades, and to take shape in the African Economic Community. But in the short term, Africa will continue as in the past to make appeals to its creditors to undertake to do more to help find a solution to the painful debt problem and thereby help complete its internal efforts to achieve development. We commend deservedly the efforts undertaken by some States to arrange a partial rescheduling or cancellation of certain debts in third-world countries in general, and of those in Africa in particular, and I appeal to other States to do the same in the interests of all. For, if nothing is clone today to guarantee for our youth a future that is humanely acceptable, the difficult constraints and the many privations imposed by the economic adjustments which are being nnde all over tha cant inent., will momt definttsly Imad to racial problems and pol lt lcal Inst.nhi 11 t y thst no coercive IIMOIIUCO will be able to cont.nIn for lonq. To remcue Africa from it.a despsr8t.c economic sit.uat!on, rapid net-Ion on t-he part. of the int.ernat,lonal cormnunity is indispsnnable. I ndeed, It. Is clear that. after t.ha failures of the yeara which followed Independence and the impnaas into which t-ho mi 1 i tarint-socialist. Marxist revolut.iona of the cant I nent. hnvn led, the mro of democracy runs the rink of leading our St.nlea - if nothinq apec:ific and aubat.ant.ial la done In t.hs next five yearn Into chws. This 13 hardly something we vould like t,o happen. That in why the int..ernnt.ional c:ommunit.y. in particular t-he developed countries. must. undortnke to help Africa put, into effect. the proposals of the Ad Hoc Conuni) tee of the Whole entrusted with the examination and final evaluation 0 the implementation of the United N<\\tiona Frogromne of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 19E6-1990 (UNPAAERD). which was held here at the United Nat.ions Headquarters from 3 to 14 September 1991. In this c:ont.ext, I appeal to all deleyations to adopt t.he two documents submitted for t.heir attention by the Ad hoc Committ.ee of the Whole *under item 4 of the agenda of the current. sassion of the General Assembly. The adoption by consensus oE these two documents will make it possible to implement proposals t-0 reverse the trend towards the decline and the increasing impoverishment of the African States and to raise the very low st.a:ltinrd of living of the rural populat~i’)ns, who are the principal victims of al 1 t.hose pc,J it ical arid orr~nwnic fni lures of l.he c:ont i nent J ince independence. The future of mankind depends, too, on a sound mamqmkent of tbe ezwiroment and a lasting development strategy within the context of the initiative taken by the Geaeral Assembly when it adopted rresalution M/228 on the convening in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 1 to 12 June 1992 of the United Nations Conference on Bnviroaumnt and Developsent, the third eeseion of whose Preparatoq Committee was held in Geneva from 12 August to 4 September 1991. we sincerelg hope that our Heads of State and Government vi11 examine with all due care the problems of protecting the environment and the closely linked problems of harmonious and lasting developeat, aud that thair analyses and decisions will be based on the valuable documents being prepared by our experts in the various negotiating cosanittees and working groups. Confident, therefore, that the Rio Conference in 1992 will be crowned with success, I should like to anticipate event5 by saying that we must collectivelg and individually co-it ourselves , especiallg the most developed and wealthiest among us, to implementing tbe decisions taken. They will cover financial mechanisms: the transfer of new, clean technology; and legal and institutional machinerg. The consensus that will be achieved both by the Preparatory Conxnittee, which will complete its work in lrlarch and April 1992, and the Conference itself in June 1992 will not menu the triumph of the ideas of a group of States CC of one hemisphere over another, but will be tbe result of a common political will to achieve a comeon dream for a conanon cause without frontiers: Planet Barth. While awaiting the deliberations in Rio next June and the implementation of the decisions taken there, Benin, like some other countries. is periodically suffering natural disasters which in a few hours destroy tbe development efforts made vitb a great deal of determination and enthusiasm. This year again, for the fourth time in 10 geara, Benin was the victim of floods in its southern region following dovapoura lasting from May to July. Those floods caused loss of human life and of millions of hectares of crops as well as displacements of people and the destruction of dvellings. I take this opportunity to erpresa our thanka once again to all those who responded to tbe appeal of Benin'5 Head of State* President Yioephore Soglo, end cf the Office of the United llations Disastet Relief Caord%nator (UHDRCJ) by providing us with various t*s of emergency aid. We express our gratitude to them and sincerely hope that tb8 International Decade for hlatural airsaster Reduction will make it paaeibia to carry out reconstruction projects to deal with disasters that have already occurred as well as to take mwsures to lessen the effects of future disasters. In addition. aware that man remains th8 subject and the euthor of all processes of transforming society, aad that there csa b8 no real, lasting progress without freedom, Benin has embarked on a democratic process, and, as I have already said, has been able to complete SUCC8SsfUlly its fkSt &18ctioUs. 'i invite the industrialised countries and international organisations to provide snassive aid to the emerging democracies in the countries of the South, in a spirit of solidarity simPlar to that which they have shovn vitb regard to the countries of Eastern Eut~pe. That is tb8 only way to enable those democracies to acMeve quickly the nratttrial conditions necessary to consolidate themselves and gradually to get out of tie economic morass they find themselves in and escape its consequences. I- Similarly, at the political level, the condemnation of gouts d etata and sxqpart for democratic regirses, such as that in Baiti, must occur spontaneously and imu@diately, as happened with regard to the a-. d'itat against President Gorbachev. Therefore, my Government firmly supports all the efforts to restore to power President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the ccnst5tutionally elected President of Haiti. Convinced that power comes from the ballot box, aad not from brute force, Benin warmly welcomes the strong resolution unanimously adopted by leaders of the Organizati8n of Am8ricaa Stster iwAS) oa 30 Ieptembor thir year In Uarhiaqtoa, and hoper that the rtstrmenta made in tho Security Council oa 3 October and in vrriour capitals of tho world will bo trsamlatod into concrete doodm. The Haitian poop10 chose dmocracy in a roveroiga act. The international cannuaity, which pave its help to that oad, must help them to rortore and coasolidato democracy. Finally, the nascent democracies in Africa sad olsewhero canaot grow stronger without building true Gtatos of law, whore rorpoct for human righta rind thr furtherance and dsfoncs of human rights and the rights of poop1011 ere not empty word6 but realities, translated into deeds in everyday life. To that end, sry country is already taking useful steps to ensure worthwhi3s participation In the World Conference on Human Riqhta, to be held at. a high lavel is 1993. Wo vary much hope that thu 3sbates at tho forty-sixth session of the General Asnembly will allow ua to consolidate the gainr made in maintaining internationnl peace and sacur-ity. They atrsngthsn our hope that the wrochQP;!:an-t bet.ween the nlajor Powers will continue to bring positive effects in world events, .so that satisfactory solutions can be found to existing conf 1i.ct.s. We also hope that the externa.; debt burden of the developing coun’trliar will be lebaenod and that the as.ristance given by wealthy countries to the less fortunate countries will be increased, making it possible to implement the social and ecorJom.ic projects vi..nl for their existence. Asi the Assembly will have noted, the current. state of the world ttas made it necessar; for me to emphasise certain points. In doing so, I wanted to express atlrl sh,are the hopes of a people wh4,ch has resolutely set out on the difficult. but very healthy path of free:‘iom, in order to overcome fear, poT.rerty and uncer ~:Bjnt~ about the f~tura !:hrc.,ugh its own genius, but not losing sight of the fsct that intmrnatiaarl coopmr8tlon awl rolidarity arm slso am8mntlal to rmalirm it8 dm8tlny. &&I- (Rwanda) (iatorprmtatloa froa trmach)! It im a qrmat honour for mm and thm entirm Stwandmmm dolmgation to coovmy to the Prmsident our warm conqratulationr on him l lmctlon to prorldo over the work of thm General Aaammbly at itr forty-mirth rmrmion. His election Ir rebcoqnition by the intmroational cmunity of him outatandinq pernoaal qualities and his ability au a mmaroned diplomat. It is also, through him, a tribute to his country, the Kinqdoa of Saudi Arabia, which has always strivma to strengthen tiea of friendship and cooperation bmtween all pmace-loving and justice-loving countries. We also congratulate the otter officers of the General Assembly elected to direct the work of thim smsaion. The Rwandorm delogatioa at this mesaion of the f3mmral Assembly uiahes to assure the Proridont that it stands fully propsrod to make its contribution to the IIUCCO~I) of the Assembly’s work. Our appreciation is alro addressed to his predecessor, Mr. Guido de Marco, who guided the work of thr forty-fifth resmion with wisdom and compotsnce c the results of which were unanimously lauded. Permit mo also to pay a tribute to the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Peres do Cusllar, who has for ten years served and directed our Organisation with competence, wisdom and dedication in discharging the extremely burdensome and complex responsibilities conferred upon him. The many different successes scored bear testimony to his exceptional qualities and have redounded to the esteem and credit of our Organisation. The Rwandese Republic will always remember him aa a man who devoted himself heart and soul to the cause of peace, justice, solidarity and the well-being of peoplea. He may be assured of our profound gratitude. I should also like to add my voice to that of those who have already offered the new Members a heartfalt welcome to the family of the United Nations, namely, the two Koreas; the three Baltic Republics: Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia; the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. They may be assured of our sincere Ielicitntions and our encouragement in working for the blossoming of the noble ideals and, more particularly, contributing to the consolidation of nuch better international relations of solidarity. In keeping with well-established tradition, the annual conveninq of the General Assembly is intended to provide an opportunity to take stock of a year’s activity by the United Nations, with a viev, especially. to prepa inq far the future on the bsmim of lmmmonm learned, l xperlaaco galned snd reaultr achiovod. It alro provider a mpoclal opportunity for all Mamber Stat-es to set forth, publicly and solemnly, their poeitlone with regard to the problems currently of concern to the international cornunity. It im an opportunity also to voice the hopes they have for the future, hopes the rsalitation of which will depend on the mobili8ation and contribution of all peopler in the context of more active molldarity above and beyond pioua hopee and mere declarations of intent. It ix against this backdrop and notwithstandiny the rather positive turn of evonta in international political relationa that Rwanda continues to be gravely concerned over the international economic situation. That eituation hardly gives any ground8 for opttmiam. mindful a8 W(I are of the worsening of the structural crisis in the world economy that is broadening the gap between tho industrialised and the developing countries. Before putting forth Rwanda’s posltion on the major problems of international politic8 in terms of political relations and economic iaauea, the Rwandese delegation would like first of all to draw the attention of all delegations gathered here for the forty-sixth session of the General Assembly to the gravity of the state of war that my country, Rwanda, haa been living through ever since 1 October 1990, when it was attacked by armed element8 from Uganda. Indeed, since 1 October 1990 the aaeailanta - including a number of former Rwandeae refugees hired by and nerving in Uganda’s regular army, the “National Resistance Army” (NRA), and calling itself the Rwandese Patriotic Front., or FPR-INKOYANYI - invaded Rwanda before being thrown out on (l!!L-~tiiYia.~al~l Rwanda 1 30 October 1990 snd since then it ha8 been orgnniming armed attscks againat the Rrnndase population in areas bordering on Uganda. The first attempt at. an sxplnnation advanced by thm aggressors to justify the armed invasion of Rwanda wan their allegsk~on that the Rwandese Government. had ref~ssd to agree to the return of Rwandese who had fled their country at the end of the 1950s in connection with the struggle of the Ruandese people against a feudal-monarchical regime and in favour of the setablishmsnt of republican institutions in the country. It should be recalled that this phenomenon of Rwandese refugees grew out of the social revolution of 1959, which brought the overthrow of the feudal regime in favour of republican democracy. The supporters of feudal monarchy rejected the new democratic system and preferred exile with their partisans in neighbouring countries, from where they have regularly launched armed attacks against the newly-constituted Republic of Rwanda between the years 1963 and 1968. However, Rwanda haa always sought a definitive solution to the problem of ita refugees, one baaed on national legislation and international conventions to which my country is party. It ia in this spirit that voluntary repatriation, at the specific request of individual refugees, haa been carried out on a continuing basis. Moreover, it is important t.o stress that the vat that has been going on in Rwanda since 1 October 1990 began at a time when our country was at an advanced stage of negotiations vit.h Uganda with a view to A definitive settlement of the problem of the Rwandese refugees living in Uganda. On the basis of the out.come of those negotiations with IJyarrda, Rwanda had envisaged waya end menee of l lro mottling the problan of Rwanclora rofu9oee living in other neighbouring countriee and alsowhere in the world. Only two month8 prior to the invasion of Rwanda, the joint Rwanda-Ugendn Minleterisl Comnlttee - which had been eetebliahed in 1960 to work out e definitive settlement of the problem of the Rwendoao refugees in Uganda - had cuat held its third meeting in Kiqali, from 27 to 30 July 1990, with the participation of the United Ration8 High Comnimeiourr for Rafugeor end the Organi8ation of African Unity. On thnt occasion, the Rwendese and Ugenden Governments had just reached agreement to the effect that under the auspices of the High Comniseioner ior Refugees a survey was to be conducted among the refugees themselves to ascertain their wishes concerning the three options proposed to them, namely, voluntary repatriation to Rwanda, a definitive settlement in Uganda with neturaliretion, or a third option of their choosing. It is appropriate also to recall that it had been decided that the Rwanda-Uganda Ministerial Committee, working in concert with the High Comnisaio~er for Refugees, was to meet again in January 1991 to finelize and endorse the solutions arrived at on the baaie of the outcome of the survey, and that ib the meantime a group of refugees was to visit Rvanda to nee for themselves the social and political situation in the country and to report their impressions to the other refugees so that the latter could make a fully informed decision on the matter. Unfortunately, that visitc which was to have taken place from the end of September to mid-October 1990, was cancelled by one side and instead IJgandn began on 1 October 1990 to carry out an armed invasion against Rwanda. Ever since the onset. of the armed conflict thus imposed upon it, Rwanda, aided by friendly countries, in particular countries of our subregion, launched a number of political and diplomatic iaitiatives aimed at restoring peace in tba cauiltry and fn the region. Against this background the summit meetings held at Mwanta in Tanzania and at Gbadolite in Zaire stressed respect for the cease-fire between the belligerents, the opening of a dialogue betwen the partfes to the conflict, and efforts to find a definitive solution to fJm problea of the Rwandeee refugees. (ML ,,,. Ih~~ukid~ttfAli~ . Blranda ) Itwao prociooly for the purporm of xtudylng waya and meann of findlnq A d*finitivo rolutlon to the problem of Rwandoxo refugoex that a roqlonal conference wne held in Dar ox Salaxm, Tanxenia, on 19 February 1991, brinqinq toqethor tha Hoadr of f&ate or Qovornmont of the rmglon. On that occasion the Government of Rwanda, while very much deploring ths fact that the war that had bnon impoxod on it xinca 1 October 1990 had brutally cut xhort tha procaxx of finding xolutionx to roxolva definitively tha problem of it8 refuqeos, once again oxyrerxed Ita conviction that. the voluntary repatriation of all Rwandese refugees was a legitimste right and a factor that would promote peace and reconciliation. Rwanda conxequently reaffirmed its readiness to take the necessary steps to facilitate the xmooth return of those rsfuqeea wishing to return and to enxure their reintegration into the various Cacetn of national life, but in thin connection asked for the indiapenaable support of the international conununity, In conformity with the decisions taken at that Dar, es Salaam conference, the Orqanixation of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Comniaaioner for Refugees are now in the process of working out, in cooperation with the countries concerned, a plan of action for finding a lasting solution to the problem of Rwandeae refugees, a plan which will be submitted to a pledging conference to be held at the beginning of next year. The Government of Rwanda, for its part, is in the process of taking specific action to prepare for the return of Rwandeso refugees that opt for repatriation. A law guaranteeinq a general amnesty for Hwandese refugees will shortly be adopted. u!ILmatublYti~lI.&%MaaBn) Hworthmlrmm, the l tate of war under which Rwsnda hba bean living for a year now har psovad that. the quest for a doflnitivo eolutlon of the problem of Rwsndeam refugeea wan not really what concerned therm that hsd connlttsd the aqqremrlon aqalnat Rwsnds. Inclesd, am the Head of Stota ol Rvanda rtressed at. the twenty-rovonth l wmnlt meeting of the Oryaniaatlorr of African IJnlty, held at Abuja lsrt Juno, the Rwanderm Patriotic Front, a8 80011 a8 It reallred that t.ho protart ol the rofugse problem advanced to “logitlni8e” before the world tha lnvarion of Rwanda no lonyar carried weight with African and international public opinion, changed the direction of the discussion and called the lnvaslon the clatenco of the ideal of democracy, endeavouring to make people belleva that whet it was doing was prompted by its determination to establish democracy in Rwanda. The fact is that mince January 1969 the Rwandeae Government had been proposing thAt there be a political renewal, and this idea took tangible shape rubasquently, notably through the adoption on 10 June 1991 of a now Constitution legitimising political pluralism as well aa effectively establishing political parties, which are already operating and irreversibly cormnitted to strengthening the democratic process. In view of the fact that virtually all the prsterts put forward for launching tha war cannot be just 1 fled, it is difficult to understand the rationale that is prompting those who committed the aggression against Rwanda to continue the hosti litien, to reject the cease-fire recommended by the various summit meetings of Heads of State hold at the subregional level and to refuse to lay down t-heir arms and enynqe in dialogue under the auspices of the mediator accepted by both parties to t.he confl ict.. Rwanda, profoundly convinced that tho oading of hostilitier in the sanential condition for the settlemaat of thia conflict, which has now laatcrd for n year, ham novar rulad out political negotiations with the aggressors. However , it ha8 alwnym stressed that much negotiations are possible only if the guns are oileacad and the cease-fire agreement riqned between the belligerents on 29 March 1991 in conpliod with. It im theroform the obrtinato porition taken by the Rwandere Patriotic Front in continuing hortilitieo that ham hmld up progress towards dialogue. The Head of Stats of Rwanda made clear Uganda’s share of responsibility in this regard when et the lsat munmit mooting of the Organixation of African Unity, held at Abuja - after having demonstrated that those attacking Rwanda had no bases within Rwanda itself but were operating from Uganda, where they were being shrltored and wre receiving all the necessary logistical support - he asked the Organisation of African Unity to enjoin Uganda to disarm the aggreEl5orel on its territory. A positive circumstance to be noted is that the aununit meeting of Heads of State held in Gbado-Lite, Zaire, on 7 September 1991, once again stressed the need to abide by an inunediate and complete cease-fire and recommended that the parties to the conflict enter quickly into a dialogue. The first round of that dialogue was held from 15 to 17 September 1991 in Gbado-Lite, under t-he auspices of the mediator, the Head of Stute of Zaire, Marshal Mobutu Sese Seko. But we have found, to our great regret. that the Rwandeae Patriotic Front p counting on the support of the Ugandan Army in continuing the war, has been engaging in stalling nanoeuvres to boycott that dialogue and prevent it from moving forward. Surely it is through dialogue that positions can be (kL.B.gu.ualylIlt~ ‘LIihmIulP) roconcl led. The Government of Rwmdm, for itr part, lr profoundly conuaitted to such dialogue and romaina ready to romum8 it without dolsy and without precondl tionm . It la the atronq doriro of the Rwandame Government that thir dialogue swiftly bring about rrrultm conduciva to ending the conflict, thus creating a propitious cl\nate of poaco and l ocurity within Rwanda aa well as throughout the region, and at the same time facllltatlng the return to Rwanda of there rafupeem wishing to raturn. Rwanda if counting vary much on the support of the international comunlty, of all the countrias Members of the United Mations reprsasnted at this fort.y-rirth aesrion of the General Aesembly, as we nook to make that. hope a reality. Tha safeguarding of international peace and security and the constant building of ties of frimndship and cooperation among nations remain the basic objectives of our actions as mankind continues its long march towards the realiration of its most profound aspiration - that is, the flourishing of international concord, of freedom and of the progress of peoples everywhere. Rwanda wishes once again to affirm its solemn commitment to the triumph of the cause of peace and it pays a profound tribute to the United Nations for the invaluable auccesaos it has achieved since its inception. We take this opportunity to express our hopes for a further strengthening of the bonds of fraternity and aol.idarity among peoples, so that we can bring to an end the crisis persisting in the world. particularly in the southern hemisphere, including Africa, a crisis that is both economic and political. Notwithstanding the generally successful record and tireless efforts of the United Nations since the forty--fifth session of the General Assembly. the international community t.oday is sti 11 conf ront.ing certain conf 1 icta which cast a pall over the dnternatioaal political scene. The world is still torn apart &r bloody tensioas and deadly conflicts arising out of anachronistic situations of intolerance, coloniratiion, oppression and racism. liaked v-lolence bolds sway wherever the sovereignty of -peoples a& *he integrity of States are flouted, wherever the digaity and the fuadamental rights of people are disregarded or trampled underfoot. AS to the major issue of fmdamental human rights and the dignity of the human person, the Government of Rwanda welcomes the step taken since the liberation of Mr. Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress of S~utb Africa (ANC), on 11 February 1990, in the process set in motion in South Africa with a view to eliminating the system of apartheid. The removalr officially, of that system on 30 June 1991, after the three juridical pillars of apartheid had been eliminated - namely, the Land Acte, the Group Areas Act and the Population Regulation A&t, as we%1 as the agreement reached on 1 July 1991 between the South African Government and the, ANC concerning the freeing of Political prisoners - opened a new chapter in interracial relations in South Africa. And yet, we deplore the fact that acts of violence and massacres still persist, especially in the black townshipsr an&. that the South African Government, which is responsible for maintaining law and order, has not managed to prevent them. We also denounce the secret f?nancing of such acts by the South African Government. Thus, while we note with satisfaction certain positive changes in South Africa, the Government of Pvanda believes that a great deal still remains to be done in tbe process of dismantling apartheid. Xt lauds the efforts made by the President of South Africa, Mr, De Klerk, and the President of the ANC. Mr. Nelson Mandela, and encourages the South African Government to pursue negotiations with the representatives of the other South African racial counnunities, including the ANC, to speed the day of the actual eradication of apartheid, once and for all, in that part of our continent. Aa to Angola, my Government welcomes the Peace Agreement signed in Lisbon OR 31 May 1991 between the Government of Angola and IJNXTA. This agreement constitutes a major step toward8 restorz peace, security and stability to Atlgola. Thr international cofenunity ia called upon to support the efforts that are being made, at the bilateral and rnrltilateral levels, to give tangible expression to the goals embodied in that agreement in the interests of international peace anb security. As to Namibia, it is our view that the ;nternational c-unity must support the negotiations set in r?otion between Illtibia and South Africa to reintegrate Walvis Say and the offshore islands. into Hamibie, in keeping uith Security Council resolution 432 (19781. The Heads of State and Sovernment of the Organisation of African Unity, meeting at Abuja, Nigeria, from 4 to 6 June 1991, were of the opinion that the problem of Walvis hay and of the offshore Hamibian islands was not a border dispute but rather an issue involving decolonination, an issue which must be resolved fairly and definitively as quickly as possible. Rwanda also reaffirms its support far the Horambican people and is pleased at the efforts made by the Government of Mozambique and ItENAMO to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict, which has been rending that country asunder for several years aov. Iiotuithstanding the significant progress made at the forty-fifth session of the General Assembly, the problem of Western Sahara still remains a concern for the international comnuaity. In fact, at the end of April 1991, the Security Council adopted an overall plan which took effect on 17 May 1991, entrusting the thited Nations with the responsibility for organizing and monitoring a referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara next year to determine whether the people want to be independent, as POLISA.310 wishes, or whether they prefer to become (LltL-mRaanba) int@gratod int.9 Morocca. Rwanda thotaform wlcavr the pmitivo turn of l vontn thera and l ncouraqor the partlem caacermed fully to cooperate with the Unitqd Rations in finding a definitive rolutioa to that conflict. Elsswt~orcs in At rice. the Governmeat of Rwanda hoper for an en8 to the civil war i.n Ethiopia and Sonalia and l acoursger t.he peoples and governments of these countries to mparo no afforta to l nmure peace, jurtico and security in t.hat pprt of Al’rica. A8 to the civil war in tlberia, Rwanda romaine convinced that only through dialogue can peace bo remtored in that country, toqethar vith security in the region. Hsnce we vould very nrwh like to l ee the psrtior to the conflict, supported by the countries in the region, continue the consultations with a view to restoring pesce and unity to the Libarian people. Rranda firmly believes i II the vslue of dialogue in finding a peaceful est.tlement to disputes and in tha principle of non-resort to force, and in consonance with international ethics and modern international law, it strongly condemns terrorism and aggression. In international forums Rwanda has invariably voicad its dedication and comnitrnent to pear and political dialogue and has always striven to translate them into action on the subregional, regional and international levels. Thus, like other countries that espouse peace and freedom, WC heaved a sigh of relief when the cease-fire agreement was signed in the Gulf region on 28 February 1991 after Kuwait had been liberated by the anti-Iraqi Coalition forces created under United Nations auspices to free Kuwait from the invasion and Iraqi occupation that had gone on since 2 August 1990. As it did throughout the Gulf criaia, Rwanda supports the meaauces and eff;,rts undertaken by the international community under the aegis of the (Clr.-AtNAliA.-m) Uaitod nation0 to rmtoro lnuV jurtico, poeco and security in that part of tho globe. The situation in the Middle Kamt cootiauos to bo wry slarminq and the Israeli-Arab coaflizt - e conflict which im boiq l zacorbatod by tho PalaetAnian problem .- continues to give riro to acute disquiet in tho international cornunity which is, aftor all, agrood that a comprohomive, just and lasting molution bo found to thio problem. Thus tho General Assembly at its forty-fifth soesion once again invited the Security Council to examine tho ateps necessary for tho onvoning of an international peace conferonce on the Middlo tact, under the auspices of the United Nations, with the participation of tho five pormanont mombors of tho Security Council and all parties to the conflict, including tho Palostino Liberation Organization (PLO), the mole, legitimate roprosentatlvo of tho Palestinian paople. The Rwandsn Governmont welcomes the results that have already boon achieved, through the efforts of the Secretary of State of the United Staten of hnsrica, Hr. James Baker, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations as well as those of l.he countries of the region, to convince the parties concerned, including Israel and the PLO, of the need to hold an international peace conference on the Middle East to put an end to this conflict, which has been with us since 1947. The international community is thus duty-bound to support all efforts exerted at the bilateral and international levels to facilitate the holding an3 success of this conference, uhich is scheduled to be held in October 1991. Uit.h rwpect to the rituation in Caabodia, wa l xpr*8e our l rtirf8ction at, and our total l upport for the cearo-fire egromnt rignod on 25 Juno 1901 botwea the Cambodian Oavorruneat and the anti-qovornmont Cambodian coslltion, as wll em the rorulta of the l loction of 18 July 1991, which brought Prince Morodom Sihaaouk to the premidoney of the Suprw National Council, the provisional body which ir to hold power in Phnom Penh startinq thir conlag Novnmber until tho holding of gonoral eloctionm to bo organiaod end l upervioed by rho United Hationa. Rwanda mupportm the affortr of the Unltmd ttatiooa and the other concorned psrtiar to resolve thio conflict once and for all to the benefit of international peace and security. Rwanda 811~0 continuer to encou~aqe all effort6 aimod et the wacrful and independent reunification of the Korean nation and hopes thst the admission of the two Korean States to the great family of the United Nations will contribute to making a reality of that lngitimate aspiration of the Koresn people. Elsewhere in the world, we note with optimism and support Zhe nable initiatives for dialogue and negotiations for peace and reconciliation already under way in Latin America, notably within the framework of the Coutadora Group. We b6lidN0 that the outcome of the Mexico Sunmit is a significant contribution towards consolidating peace and security in the region. The international economy ia still in crisis - a crisis which for the third-world countries incretaaingly poses a threat to their veiy survival and runs the the ri8k of negating the laborious efforts at development that have already been undertaken. The crisis is easentially structural in nature because it invo?ves machinery which currently governs international economic relbtiona, with the increasingly negative impact inherent in the instability of financial markota, tho continued doterioratioa in the tormr of trndo, tha 8tvJnatlon In carrnodlty mrkets, and ladebtadaerm. Th. African COlltiD~Dt ir l till OZpWi~DCilk9 tr&C problem Of Undordovolopmmnt~ l coaomlc projrctm for the majority of countrioa ia the least dwmlopad category are ph. wpocially for thorn countries, 1Ika Rranda. which are fsced with vorloua rtructural handicapr that are oxacerbated by the currant l -2onomic 8ituatioo. Thor. are the mart diaadvanteged countrimr of the world# thay are vitam88ing a worsening of the living condition8 of tholr pooplos, unable to do anything about the rcourgor of poverty, hungor, malnutrition and ignorance. Rwanda, one of the wry rariourly affected victim8 of the porri8tont international economic Crisis, deplore8 thi8 8itUatiOQ Bnd 0Dce ag&iD appeal8 to the international COmNDity t0 di8play greater rolidarity and more effective uaderrtanding, vlth a view to overcoming the conrtraints and development problema. The problem of indebtedners ir of acute concern to the developing countries, particularly the least developed among them. A8 IBO rightly recalled by the S-it Conference of the Heads of State or Government of the Orgsniaation of African Unity held io hbuja from 4 to 6 June 1991, the unprecedented drop in prices for the conmnodities sold by African countries which has led to worsening termn of trade, the adoption of increasingly protectionist measure6 and restrictive trade practices on the market8 of the industrialired countries aimed against exports from Africa - those nre some of the chief external cause8 that have led to our continent’s indebtedness. Rwanda regrets that the need to convene an international conference on Africa’s erternal debt doea not yet enjoy consenaua between the induatrialized countries and the dovelopiq countries, notably within the United Nations, o.isA-~L-.&~dR 1 whom, non. thr lera, a brosd con~oasu~ ir emerging on the donirability of dovrlopiag intornationsl economic cooporation on tha external debt. While we welcome the daci8ion adopted at the Runnit Conforoaco of the l even major indurtrisllwd countriw hold in London on 18 July 1991 to cancal between 50 par coat and 80 per cant of the offlclal debt incurrad by the leeat dovoloped countrler, we nom the leQ# contlaue to fool that a conforonco on Africa.8 l xtornal debt should ba convened! ruch a conferwcm could provide an appropriate framework in tha march for an utgant solution to thir l mrioum problem that ir mortgaging Africa’r acooomic davolopment. ID thir connection, wo hail Japan’s initiative to hoot the International Conference on Africa’8 Development, echodolled for 1993, with the psrticipstion of the African Heads of State. The Republic of Rwanda pay8 a ringing tribute to the people and the Government of Japan for this historic initistive of great benefit to the African continent. Uith respect to the international trade situation, Rwanda continues to believe that, in order for the international trade system to be acceptable, it must provide for the elimination of all kinds of trade barriers and for the integration in the system of small countries that are now marqinalired. including African countries. Alao, in order for the system to be viable, it must be profitable to all trade partners. Therefore, it is important for all participants in the Uruguay Round negotiations to pay special attention to the problems end concerna of the African countripr. He stress that all the partiea to the negotiations ahould take part on an equal footing Qo that the negotiations’ outcome will be fair and Qcceptable to all. Bvaada vellcms the establishment by the S-t Conference of tbe Heads of State or Government of then Organiration of JLfrican Unity, held in Abuja from 4 to 6 June 2991, of the African Hconomic C osammity, onet of whose goals is to promote Africa'8 economic, social and cultural developsent aad the integration of its economies , with a view to enhancing economic self-sufficiency and promoting endogenous and self-sustaining development. We call upon the international cousnrn itp, and especially the most industrializred countries and the international financial institutions, to support this initiative Bn every way and to help the nascent African Economic Community attain in noble goals. We call for just and appropriate maasures to support the effort at revitalisation undertaken bp our countries at considerable sacrifice, anb for better integrated and more adaptable solutions to be developed with the full cooperation of all parties, in order to ensure that. mankind will enjoy a future of fairness, balance and harmony. It is in this context that Rwanda wishes once again from this rostrum to express its sincere thanks to all countriea and international organizations which, on a bilateral basis or at the multilateral level, are providing the additional support it needs for its development and, in particular, for its structural adjustmsnt programme, which has been in the process of implementation since liovember last year. Ecological QrObh&?t are now of world concern. But there are still differences of view with respect to the causes and responsibilities linked to the deterioration aud the protection of the environment, as well as with respect to the measures to he taken in this field. Once again Africa finds itaelf the victim: there is drought, desertification, fleads and devastation (0 the rerult ot inmat iafwtrtionr. uy country, ulf8ndr. aroribar pwAcul~r impottancr to promwing it8 natural patrlmouy mad hrs n8do tho protection of the l nvirommeot oam of the major prioritlw of It8 food self-•ufflcioncy policy, (kiLLmaumuu....- 1 Rwanda ia pled that the intornatioael cormsunity ir tackling the problon of the l nviromnt sad ia aware of the urgent need to mobIlime all re80urco8 necessary to provide 8olutionm that will gunrantoo the 8urvival of our planet. There are ground8 for hope that the United Mations Confereuce on Bnvirozunont and Development 8chedul.d for branil in June 1992, the propnratory work for which ir continuing, will ranch concortod and appropriate 8olutionr to prororv8 e sound end viable environment for mankind. Uwanda ir participating In thi8 work and is making its modort contribution to l n8Uring it8 8UCCOIs. Th8 forty-sixth 8888ion of the United Nation8 Gmnersl A88embly ir being h8ld in a climate of particularly favourable int8rnational rolationr. Pwanda welcomes th8 fact that the cold war, which after the Second World War divided the world into two antagonistic bloc8 and maintained the diVi8iOn of Suropo, ha8 once and for all ended thank8 to the policy of PerestrPika and of w of Soviet President Mikhsil Gorbachev. This led to the Change8 in Eastern Europe, especially the peaceful reunification of Germany on 3 October 1990. We welcome the general relaxation of tensions in the world-wide political cl imate, which has made possible, indeed facilitated, D solution to many different local and regional conflicts across Africa, Asia and Latin America. The winda of freedom and democracy which blew across Eastern Europe, and the effecta of which were quickly felt in a variety of other places around the world, especially in Africa, are a major factor in the political changes now under way. Rwanda takes note of and appreciates the support which Western countries ale giving to this democratic upsurge. It is of the view, however, that, while supporting the democratic processes thus set in train, the Western count.rloo should do sll thay can to (1.0 to it that. tho l conomlc dovaloprnant of thm countriar concornsd hacomes tho strongoat pillar of thnt democracy becmuaa, and this must be emphanirod, It ir an illusion to rook to build e mound democracy without promoting the roclo-economic devolopmant of pooploa. Uy country which, In Juno 1991, began to l rtablIrh l political ryator bared upon a multiparty approach, rolaoo thir opportunity to roafflrm ltr unbroken faith in and coumnlt.maM to roapoct for human dignity and other valuer univorsslly recognised as human rights. Wo alro rosffirm our faith in a futura marked by a better world, a world of peace and solidarity, a world from which war and all manner of violence, terrorism and dircrlmination arm banished for over, a world freed once and for all of the vestiges of colonialism, racism and injustice, a world marked by undaratanding, dialogua and cooporation. Wa utrongly urge the Unit.ed States and the Sovirt Union to presorvm the gaina of dialogue joined in the realm of disarmament, to the great relief of mankind, and we welcome the signing of the strategic arms reduction Treaty which took place on 31 July 1991 between the United States and the Soviet Union on the occasion of the Moscow sumnit. We also welcome the conclusion of the treaty on conventional disarmament between the East and West signed on 19 November A?90 in Paris by the Heads of State and Government of the 35 countries on the occasion of the sununit meeting from X9 to 21 November of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. On the same occasion they signed a joint declaration solemnly putting an end to the cold war and affirming that they were no longer adversaries but rather had decided to establish new relations of friendship and partnership. (kL.JPluurbSYMWA~..Bw~nd~ 1 We hell l spwially the docl#lon taken by the Uoitod Btatos and the Soviet Union la fnvour of 8 unllatoral reduction In thoLr nuclear arrennlr. We welcome In r~vmaco the ldem that the other major aucloar Poworm ~111 certainly COI low rult. Rwanda doeply bollevee in the Unltod Netfoam and rocognirem its Indispensable role in naintnlninq peace, security and juotlco in the struggle to bring well-belnq to pooplom the world over. We exprern our l inceta qtstitude to the agenclos throughout the United Nstionn system which are contributing to the social and economic developmant of mankind. We rupport the establishment of a DOW and ruoro fruitful North/South cooperation with a view to promotinq more equitable l coaomic and political tier between Statea. Such cooperation will l otvo the goners1 interortm of international peace and security and ie likely to promote the economic recovery of all countrisu but especially the developing countries and among them the least developed. In this spirit Rwanda will actively psrticigste in the work of this forty-sixth session of the United Nations Gaoeral Assembly and will constantly strive to make its contribution to the fulfilment of the noble objectives of the Charter. These include the attainment of a new international economic order for peoples the world over, within the cootext of equality, complementarity, understanding and solidarity, and a greater measure of peace, justice and well-boinq for people everywhere oo Earth. YalLtEmm ’ Two repreaeotatlvea have arkod to nuorclse the right of reply. ~sy 1 remind memborr that, In accordance with Oanoral Arrembly docielon 341401, ntatemamtr in l rorclro of the right of reply nro lIntted to 10 minutes for the flrst idtorvention and to 5 minutes for the second and should bo mndo by delogatlom fron their moat *. I shall uow crll on tbooe roprorentatlver who wlah to rpoak ln oxercIse of the right of reply. &ww (Greoco)~ The Grook dolsqstion was surprised by what was said by the reprmsentatiw of Albania on 30 September when he spoke in ersrcirlng his right of reply to the spoach of the Greek Foreign Minister. We were surprirsd both by uhat he raid concerning the number of the Grwk minority living in Albania and by his ellegation shout the presence of the so-called “Tsrunis” in Greece. First, let me say a few words shout the Graok minority in Albania. The number of 60,000 people quoted by the Albanian reprerenativs is baaed on an Albanian census canductsd in 1989 and is simply not acceptable. In the conditions prevailing in Albania at that time the citizens of that country could not declare their et.hnic identity. Greece has never sccepted t.he results of that so-called “census”. In fact, in o statement mad9 in the Third Cofmnittee of the General Aaeembly on 23 October 1.989 (A/C.3/44/SR. 151, the Greek delegation disputed the results of that census with regard to the Greek minority in Albania. It did SL because the previous tota1itaria.i regime arbitrarily recognired as members of tho Greek minority only thoae rssidinq in a specific corner of Albania. All other ethnic Greeks, even those who we:e born in that corner hut later vere moved ~~s~~~r~, v~re mid still ate considered es non-Greeks. The fact is that rs of t.be Greek minority - who amount, as tha Greek Foreign Minister Rwanda this Assmnbnblg a few days ago, to several bun&reds of thousands - are to be found all over Albania, although of course the bulk of the Greek population remains in their ancestral hoam. turt1r.rlnorr , the l ducatlonml rlyhta of thr Orook nlnority l rm rubjact 10 the came gooqrephicel rertrlctloar. Kven in thorn Ilmltod roglonr vhoro Oreek ie taught, It ir taught In the flrrt four grader of *lementnry ochool only, while Grook~ remidlnq la other reglana of Albenin have no right to l ducntion in their mot.her tonque. Now, with regard to the no-called “Tremir” alnority to which the Albanisn repreaeatative referred, I wirh to rtete once more that. Car UII no ouch nlnorlty l xlnte. What the Albanian Government includes In that. I)O called minority are all those individual8 who, during thm Second World War end the foroiya occupsticn of my country, committad crimes agninat. t.he Greek neoplm in collaboration with the Raai and rsnclmt occupat.iun forcea and, at the end of the war, withdrew voluntarily from Greece along with the occupation forcer. 11 is unacceptable, under any pretext, to try to reverse ths rerulta of the Secoud World War, a war that cost Europe in general, and my country in particular, very dearly in terma of human lives snd suffering. We believe that Albania needs our support in its first steps towards democrar y. Thn Greek Governnent has shown film the very beginning its willingness to be a friendly and supportive neighbour. Let it be known, however , that the attitude and bohaviour of the Albanian authorities towards the Greek minority will be a determininq factor in our relationa. -4 ( IJganda 1: Wet have 1 iatened to the statement made by the representative of Rwanda. At the appropriate tims my head of delegation will respond to a31 the 4anuea the delegation of Rwanda has raised against. my country. However, 1 ohould liie to state briefly that before this body Hwanda must. accept responsibility For its nationals. The representative of Rwanda has &~~~itt& l&ore the Assembly that RwaQ&a*s refugee problem start%& way back in 3559. Since then, the Bwandese refugees who fled their couotry have been living es refugees in Uganda. Uganda is not a vest refugee camp for Rwanda to &mp 5ts -wanted nationals. They carrot live in UgaQ&a for ever against their wi'l * . I wi$b to deny categorically that uganazi has been involved in Amy way in an iQvasioQ of RwaQda. N%ither does it sup~rt the refugee& who are now inside Rwanda and fighting only inside Rwanda - arad Qot OQ th% soil of Uganda - for tb%ir ovn right to return. The Goveraraent of Rwanda mist accept the responsibility for its Qationals ma must cooperate vitb the present reqionel efforts to Solve its 0~33 civil war. I&. NGM3JKIYINlWALI (Rwanda) (intarp;-etation from French): I have just 15sten%& to the statem%Qt by the representative of Uganda, supposedly in reply to the statemnt I made before this boay to-y. The problem does Qot arise iQ terms of r%spOQsibility for nationals. Rwanda doss feel respoasible for its nationals. But we caQQot accept that a neigbbcurinry tountryp, a friendly coamtry - aad, iQd%%d. we have always regarded Uganda as a friendly country. and ys continue to look upon it as a frsternal cmmtry, despite (3% critical situation that prevails - should allow aggressors to leave from ita territory to invade our country. I should have liked the representative of Uganda to deny that Major. General Fred Bwigema had been the Ugandaa Minister of Defence and deputy chief of staff of the Uqaadan Army. I would have liked to hear the representative of uganaa deny that Major Becyenyeai, Major Peter BaybingaQa and smy others were officers in the Uga~daQ army. (pat. Naarukivintwali. Rwandg) I do not wish to go into the situation in great depth, because I have heard that another statement will be made in reply to my statement to the Assembly. I should simply like to say that we are asking Uganda. which has signed international conventions, to respect then. They have signed the Declaration on the policy of good-neighbourliness. We are here ia the General AE;sembly of the United Nations. Ugaada is a Member of the Organisation and a signatory to the Cbarter. It is a signatory to the Charter of the Organisation of African Unity. We ask that those commitments freely uadertabsn be respected and that Uganda practice a policy of sincere good-aeigbbourliness with regard to &v-da. Rwanda, for its part, remains prepared to respond positively. But Uganda must be watchful and control all the assailants who leave its territory to attack Rwanda. I should like to state again that none of tbe troubles that disturb the peace in Rwanda originate on Bwandan territory. All of Rwanda's attackers come from the territory of Uganda. Maay neutral international observers have noted this, and if there are others who wish to learn the facts, they can come to see for themselves. We ask Uganda to practise a sincere policy of good-aeigbbourliness and to respect its conunitments within the framework of the United Nations Charter and the Charter of the Organization of African Unity. Mr. EUDI (Albania): Due to the lateness of the hour, the Albanian delegation would like to reserve its right to reply on some other day. The meeting rose at 6.30 p.m.